The Senior Tourism Programme, titled as 60+, will provide travels to Azoreans citizens, who are over 60 for the second consecutive year, counting upon four hundred and twenty six applications, which represents a total of six hundred and forty three people that will travel on the Azorean Islands.
Nine people have applied for the programme on S. Jorge and Flores Island, one hundred and eighty four on Terceira, eighty seven on Faial, sixty six on S. Maria, one hundred and eighty four on S. Miguel and one hundred on Pico, in a total of six hundred and forty three citizens. This fact demonstrates the significant adherence of citizens to this initiative implemented by Carlos César’s Government.
This programme for senior tourism, created by the Government of the Azores in collaboration with SATA and INATEL, will take place from August 2009 until May 2010, allowing all those, who have never had the opportunity to benefit from the traditional offer of the tourism market due to socio-economic reasons, to visit and know the islands of S. Maria, Graciosa, S. Jorge, Pico, Faial and Flores.
With a cost of 25 Euros per person and per accompanying person, citizens who apply for the 60+ Programme are entitled to air transport, one week stay at a four-star Hotel as well as to the respective transfers, tours and animations on the destination island with the accompaniment of qualified tourism animators.
The Senior Tourism Programme, which is available to all the Azorean citizens who meet the requirements established by the regulation, regardless the island where they live, plays an important social role, boosting the regional economy through the animation of the regional tourism market in the low and mid seasons, especially the hotel and catering sector; in addition to providing the knowledge and interaction of citizens from different islands, the knowledge of other places in the Azorean territory and of heir socio-cultural heritage.
It is estimated that nearly one thousand Azoreans will have the opportunity to improve the interconnection of the different insular contexts of the Region until May 2010, simultaneously enhancing the citizens’ knowledge and the exchange of experiences between the local community and the visitors; therefore promoting social cohesion, building and strengthening the Azorean unity.
868 elderly from several Azorean islands travelled under the 60+ Programme in 2008, which represent a cost of five hundred thousand Euros.