Açores: as segundas melhores ilhas do mundo (III)

Os critérios de avaliação da revista foram os seguintes:

Guide to the Scores:
0-25: Catastrophic: all criteria very negative, outlook grim.
26-49: In serious trouble.
50-65: In moderate trouble: all criteria medium-negative or a mix of negatives and positives.
66-85: Minor difficulties.
86-95: Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so.
96-100: Enhanced.

O que dizem os autores das ilhas portuguesas e Canárias:

Azores, Portugal, Score: 84

"Not a beach destination or otherwise susceptible to mass tourism; indeed, its capricious climate probably impedes the flow of tourists. The islands' green volcanic mountains and picturesque black-and-white towns look set to remain unspoiled." "Wonderful place. Built environment in good shape. Locals are very sophisticated as most have lived overseas." "Remote and temperate, the Azores remain lightly touristed. Main visitor type is the independent traveler staying in B&Bs. The ecosystem—from the beautiful hydrangea-covered hills of Flores to the rock-bottomed bays of Terciera—is in great shape. Whales still a frequent sight. Local culture strong and vibrant. Not uncommon to be invited to a person's house for dinner, or welcomed into a communal meal during a festival."

Madeira Islands, Portugal, Score: 61

"Despite a reputation for high-quality tourism, beautiful and diverse gardens, and walking in beautiful scenery, Madeira has suffered from mass-market hotel development spreading out from Funchal." "Most of this Atlantic treasure seems relatively undisturbed by the tourism influx that has eaten up the coastline surrounding the capital city of Funchal." "My favorite, full of flowers and pure nature. Wandering along the old water canals is fascinating. The nature is marvelous and very special. Religious events and churches invite visitors. Local market area is attractive, and fado music charms me. The negative features are high hotels that do not fit into the landscape and are too dominant in a townscape."

Canary Islands, Spain, Score: 52

"The state of smaller islands such as Hierro, Palma, etc., are extremely different from and in much better shape than the main tourism machines of Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife." "Intensively developed, mass tourism, lower end of the market." "Wide internal variation, even within individual islands; from high quality on all counts (e.g., El Teide volcano on Tenerife, some built heritage in Las Palmas/Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz de Tenerife, beach development in Playa Blanca/Lanzarote) to excessive and negative tourism development (as north shore of Tenerife) and conversely underdeveloped heritage resources (as Arrecife, Lanzarote). Tourism development thus of varying degrees of appropriateness and environmental/social sustainability." "My scores would range from 80 for El Hierro to 40 for Gran Canaria." "With the Mediterranean islands saturated, the Canaries might be the next target."