The "Azores Geopark Network" is an innovative initiative created within the European Geopark Network was presented by the Regional Director for Tourism at a meeting of the Network's Coordinating Committee that was held in Bielsa, Spain, on Friday.

"Organised within the European Geoparks Network, this unique initiative that was highly praised by other members," stated João Bettencourt, who represented the Azores in this international meeting.

The works of this meeting focused on the actions promoted by European Geoparks last year. During this period of time, the Azores Geopark developed a series of activities aimed at the preservation and promotion of 121geosites in the archipelago as well as several actions to raise the awareness of the population for the importance of these sites.

The Regional Government has invested in the creation and implementation of the Azores Geopark as a structuring project for the Region given the archipelago's geological heritage, its scientific, scenic and educational value, the existence of a rich biodiversity and a relevant cultural heritage.

In addition to asserting the position of the Azores in Europe and in the World, the fact that the Azores Geopark are part of the European and Global Geoparks Network can boost the creation of regional and local companies in the areas of tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism and rural tourism. In turn, this will contribute to the development of new products and services in the context of sustainable tourism.

The Azores Geopark will promote an international meeting on the theme "Volcanic Geoparks" in October this year. The event will bring to the Azores several members of other geoparks within the UNESCO network.