The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated today that the Government of the Azores has strongly invested in Surf, stressing the importance of the sports component and the fact that it is an activity that "clearly falls within the regional tourism offer."
 
Vítor Fraga spoke to journalists at the end of the opening ceremony of Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, which he presided over on behalf of the President of the Government. He stressed that this competition "was the result of a strong investment made by the Government for this year, foreseeing the possibility of turning Surf into an Olympic sport, and this turned out to be a successful strategy." The competition taking place on Monte Verde beach in Ribeira Grande has beaten the record of registered teams and athletes.
 
"There are about 400 athletes from 39 countries in an event involving 1,000 people, which clearly corresponds to what is our strategic guidelines for the organisation of such event," Vítor Fraga said, adding that, on the one hand, it contributes to the increase of tourism flows in the Azores and, on the other hand, to the external projection of the Region.
 
"With the vast presence of countries we have here, these goals will be fully achieved," said the government official.
 
Vítor Fraga also noted that the fact that Surf has become an Olympic sport "also gives another dimension to the event and the certainty that the future Tokyo medallists are probably here among us."
 
"The global Surf elite will certainly be here on the island of São Miguel in half a dozen years, with all the positive aspects for the projection of the Region and the success of the event," stressed the Regional Secretary.