The Regional Director for Tourism said today that the Azores have excellent infrastructures to meet the demands of the Meeting Industry (MI), an area of business tourism that has become increasingly attractive to the economies of Regions.

João Bettencourt spoke at the opening session of the Iberian Chapter of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in Ponta Delgada. The government official stressed that the Azorean Government is aware of the importance of the Meeting Industry for regional economy. "In the context of the priorities set for regional tourism over the last 15 years, the Government has strongly invested in the development of MI with the creation of all necessary mechanisms to put the Azores on the map of national and international MI destinations."

The Regional Director reminded that "high-quality and flexible infrastructures were specifically created for this sector either on São Miguel and Terceira or on the remaining islands." The government official mentioned that the island of São Miguel "is currently equipped with infrastructures that provide quality and comfort to a congress up to 1,000 delegates," such as the modern Complex at "Portas do Mar" or the "Teatro Micaelense," which "was renewed and equipped to host medium-sized congresses."

João Bettencourt also told participants in the convention promoted by the Iberian Chapter of ICCA that "one of the best Congress Centres nationwide is located in Angra do Heroísmo." According to him, this Congress Centre "has its own simultaneous translation materials for six languages and, in addition to being highly flexible, its details often surprise international visitors." Moreover, the government official mentioned some venues on the island of Faial, including the "Teatro Faialense," Horta Public Library, the multifunctional space at Barão Palace and the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre.

For the Regional Director for Tourism, the Meeting Industry "is one of the most relevant areas of the Azores tourism that has been widely developed and special emphasis has been to its international projection" in the context of tourism activities related to meetings, congresses, events and incentives.

The Regional Government intends to "put the Azores on the map of MI destinations of excellence", said João Bettencourt. The government official stressed that the Region "has a great potential and is highly competitive in this sector, taking into consideration the investments that have been made in this area and the institutional support in the promotion of events in the Region."