The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport revealed in Horta that the proposed Plan and Budget for 2016 awards priority status to the promotion of the Azores in major tourism markets and the improvement of transport infrastructures.

Speaking at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Economy Affairs of the Legislative Assembly on the proposed Plan and Budget for next year, Vítor Fraga revealed "the 10% reinforcement in the amount allocated to this programme, which aims to consolidate its presence in the main "tourism markets" of the Azores.

According to Vítor Fraga, this measure aims to increase "tourism flows in the Region" and make the sector increasingly sustainable from the standpoint of wealth generation and employment creation."

In the area of transport, the major investment is related to port and airport infrastructures, with a planned investment of 35.9 million Euros aimed at the improvement of "efficiency and safety and passenger comfort. It also responds to the significant growth in terms of passengers circulating in the region," the Regional Secretary said, pointing out that this investment will be visible both in the inter-island air transport as in maritime transport, especially on the "Triangle" islands (Faial, S. Jorge and Pico).

Vítor Fraga also said the Strategic Plan and Marketing of the Tourism Sector with the Horizon 2020, which considered to be "the most comprehensive ever," is in final evaluation phase and will be soon presented to the Council of the Government.

"We needed a waiting time, which had mainly to do with the new reality we are living in the tourism sector and air transport," said Vítor Fraga. In this regard, the government official stressed the importance of having the most reliable document as possible that will guide all those involved in the public and private sector in order to help them developing their activities and rendering the sector increasingly sustainable from the standpoint of wealth generation and employment creation.

For payments to SATA, Vítor Fraga stressed that the Government has already allocated an additional sum of 20 million Euros for this purpose.

In 2016, the Regional Secretary added that the plan provides the allocation of "about 5.6 million Euros to continue these payments and settle in full the amounts owed by the Region to that company."

"We will continue to make the payments next year and in coming years, thus complying with the provisions of the company's business plan," added the government official.

Vítor Fraga also stressed the Azorean Government aims to move forward with the construction of two new maritime passenger transport vessels.

"This is a major project at European level. It requires the Commission's prior validation, especially when it comes to the granting of state aid," said the government official.

"The process is ongoing and, as soon as it is completed, the Government will launch the tender for the new vessels, as in accordance with the Plan and Budget for this year," stressed the Regional Secretary.