The Azores is one of the most sustainable nature-based island destinations in the world. Local tourism activities companies are vital for adventure experiences. Using several editions of the official Tourism Activities Guide, their portfolios were analysed. The analysis focuses on the companies' products and type of activities, geographic coverage, and brands. The general profile indicates that they operate on only one island, have a small portfolio, and are prone to specialise in sea or land activities. "Snorkelling" and "motorboat rides" are the most commonly available sea activities, while "nature hikes and walks," "van tours," and "cultural tours" are the most widespread land activities. Explicit or indirect references to the Azores and adventure often appear in the companies' brands, in line with international trends in the adventure tourism. Nevertheless, company profiles are changing due to the impact caused by a new air transport model.

Tourism planning is increasingly a fundamental process for qualifying and increasing the competitiveness of tourist destinations, especially when it is required to take into account the new needs of tourists and the global trend towards meeting the principles of sustainable tourism. This study aims to analyse the improvements that, in the opinion of visitors, should be implemented in Ponta Delgada, the largest hub of tourism activity in the Azores (Portugal), detecting differences between specific groups of visitors, in order to contribute to territorial organisation and the optimisation of tourism experiences. 400 answers to a survey distributed among tourists who visited this Azorean municipality were analysed, using several statistical methods, such as the chi-square test of independence and some Hierarchical Cluster Analysis algorithms. The main conclusions refer to the statistically significant associations between the mean of transport used to travel and views of some aspects to be improved, with signs of patterns in visits and critical attitude.

WTO (World Tourism Organization) recognizes that adventure tourism is a journey that includes at least two of three elements: (a) physical activity, (b) natural environment; and (c) cultural immersion. With this in mind, the Autonomous Region of Azores, classified as one of the OR (Outermost Regions) by the European Union (EU), meets several of those elements. Therefore, the Archipelago shows several potential for the development of this typology of tourism. However, this insular region faces many challenges. Some of those obstacles are also great opportunities for regional development towards new sustainable models. For example, there is the islands’ geographical location, which enables exceptional territorial development opportunities and growth opportunities. Contextually, the Archipelago’s nine islands afford great variety to the destination, and the tranquil rural landscape fits the perfect framework for unparalleled, charming, and relaxing experiences. Moreover, the Archipelago’s specific characteristics, as its volcanic nature, make the destination a perfect place to be explored. These are just some examples of the region’s potential to develop this typology of tourism, based on nature, and consequently, a vehicle to achieve the so-desired regional sustainability.

The combination of unique and differentiating aspects and the concentration of a substantial proportion of accommodation and tourism-related companies has made Ponta Delgada the most developed tourism destination in the Azores. A questionnaire was structured to evaluate tourist satisfaction with the municipality as a tourism destination. The data was analyzed using measures of descriptive statistics, nonparametric hypothesis tests, algorithms of Ascendant Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and the Nonlinear Principal Component Analysis. It reveals that Ponta Delgada has earned competitive tourist satisfaction, has competitive attractions and attracts different tourist profiles, with cruise passengers being more satisfied and more likely to stay in the city and engage in softly activities while tourists travelling by airplane, who are more critical, tend to engage in more dynamic, nature-based activities. This paper contributes to research on destination competitiveness, tourism performance and strategic tourism planning at the local level through statistical analysis of tourism data.