The Regional Director for Tourism, João Bettencourt, stressed today the importance of enhancing human resources in the tourism sector, considering them essential for the competitiveness of the Azores Destination.

João Bettencourt spoke at the opening of the forum "Perspective of Tourism on Faial," stressing the importance of this debate for everyone involved in this industry," given the faster dynamics of tourism in various areas of the sector. According to him, special emphasis should be given to human resources, which demands from us the need to make continuous adjustments."

"We are living in a changing world at all levels, in which today's reality will not be that of tomorrow," said the Regional Director.

"We will only be able to increase our competitive power and guarantee the economic sustainability of our destination and of all parties involved, if we join efforts and invest in the qualification of jobs in the tourism sector," João Bettencourt said, stressing that this accomplishment of this goal requires commitment, hard work and cooperation.

In his speech, the Regional Director highlighted the strategic importance attached to Tourism by the Government of the Azores in this legislative period. João Bettencourt noted that, together with the promotion and consolidation of the destination, the qualification of the tourism offer is one of "the major goals" of the Government, which also includes the enhancement of human resources; the latter involves the coordinated efforts between all regional vocational training schools, the Azorean Government and local authorities.

"The high levels of competitiveness we face daily in an increasingly global market require from all of us a greater effort towards qualification, modernisation, innovation, diversification and quality of our tourism sector, which should reach a level of excellence," said the government official.

"Our main goal as a tourist destination is to continue the path towards excellence. And this can only be achieved with qualified and highly motivated human resources," said the Regional Director.