The Government of the Azores promotes, from October 31 to November 6, the 12th edition of the Missing the Azores" programme, an initiative that allows emigrants to visit the Region. It is directed at those who, due to economic reasons, have not visited the archipelago for over 20 years.

This year's edition will count on the participation of 12 emigrants from Brazil, Canada and the United States, aged between 61 and 81; most of whom have not visited the Azores for over 25 years.

One participant, resident in Brazil, has not visited the Region 65 years ago, when he emigrated as a child and never returned. With this programme, he will have the opportunity to visit places and meet family as well as to become better acquainted with the present reality of the archipelago.

For a week, the 12 emigrants participating in this initiative will visit places of tourist and cultural interest on three islands of the Azores: Valley of Furnas, Terra Nostra Park, tea and "queijadas" factories and Santa Iria Viewpoint on S. Miguel; Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre and Caldeira de Nossa Senhora da Conceição on Faial; Vineyard Culture Landscape, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, Santuary of Bom Jesus Milagroso, Capitão Crater Lake and Mistério das Bandeiras on Pico.

Aimed at Azorean citizens over 60 years living in Brazil, Canada, USA and Bermuda, this programme is the result of a partnership between the Cabinet of the Regional Under Secretary for External Relations, through the Regional Directorate for Communities, and Grupo SATA.

The initiative has the support, through the selection of participants, of various institutions that make up the International Social Support Network, based in the USA, Canada, Bermuda and Brazil.

The "Missing the Azores" programme falls within the support and cooperation policy implemented by the Regional Government in partnership with social institutions in the Diaspora. The initiative intends to integrate emigrants as well as to promote the quality of life of Azorean emigrant communities.