The Regional Secretary for the Economy received the board of the Azores Cruise Club in Ponta Delgada on Monday morning.

The meeting held by Vasco Cordeiro was organised with the purpose of addressing the activities carried out by the Azores Cruise Club as well as some activities to be developed by its leaders throughout the year.
 
During the meeting, the Regional Secretariat for the Economy stressed the Government’s commitment in the “promotion of cruise tourism” as one of the dimensions of the regional tourism policy, which is demonstrated “not only in the investment already made in an infrastructure specifically suited for this purpose, such as the case of “Portas do Mar” cruise terminal, but also in the interventions that are being carried out in the Horta seafront or in the future cruise terminal in Angra do Heroísmo, which is at a preparation stage.”

Vasco Cordeiro also assured “the Government’s willingness to cooperate with the regional entities in the tourism sector.” 

Last year, six dozens of cruise ships have put in at the Azores, including “Queen Elizabeth,” one of the world’s most famous cruise ships.

The Azorean ports have registered a total of over 60,000 passengers in 2010.

These figures are the result of a plan to promote the Ports and Marinas of the Azores that has been implemented since 2009 and which has led to the organisation of various promotional initiatives in specialised fairs.

Under the motto “A Safe harbour between three continents,” this plan aims to promote the Azores as a stopover between the USA and Europe, being the archipelago a privileged place for crews to rest as well as for supplying vessels.