The Government will promote new air routes between the Nordic market and the Azores in order to boost the tourism sector in the Region.

The announcement was made by the Regional Secretariat for the Economy in Ponta Delgada this afternoon during the signing ceremony of several protocols between SATA International, the Azores Tourism Association, ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, S.A. and the Portuguese Tourism Institute, I.P.

With this joint effort, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the creation of three new routes will be possible: Ponta Delgada/Oslo, Ponta Delgada/Copenhagen and Ponta Delgada/Stockholm in addition to reinforcing the connection between Ponta Delgada/ Toronto.

The importance of the Nordic market for the Azores destination was one of the key factors for the creation of these new routes as well as the contribution that these markets may bring for the development of tourism in the archipelago, thus estimating the coming of 15 thousand new tourists. 

The creation of these connections is mainly intended to promote the Azores, a task that has been carried out throughout the year not only by the Regional Directorate for Tourism, but also by the Azores Tourism Association and it is expected to be continued in 2010, announced Vasco Cordeiro.

This is a task that will focus on various aspects, being a work of responsibility given the importance of the issue on tourism development for the Azores.

Vasco Cordeiro stressed that one cannot turn this subject into simple and destructive criticism, particularly when the facts contradict the reasons why these criticisms are made.

In the one hand it is inconceivable that someone may consider the Regional and Portuguese Governments accountable for the crisis in the tourism sector and on the other hand it is wrong to criticise the Azorean Government for an omission regarding the tourism promotion policy in the Azores, stated the Regional Secretary.

Hence, it is perplexing when those who made these criticisms have recently proposed an increase of two million Euros for the promotion of tourism in the Region, knowing in advance the announcement made by the President of the Government that there will be an increase of about 30 million Euros in the next three years.

Vasco Cordeiro conveyed a message of hope to all the tourism operators that through the contribution of everyone we will able to overcome this period of crisis and to worn on the promotion and development of the tourism sector in the Azores.