The Vice-President of the Government pointed out in Angra do Heroísmo the momentum that the tourism sector is gaining on Terceira Island and in the Azores, announcing the construction of five new hotel units soon.
"We have authorised and approved the projects for five new hotel units in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo over the last weeks," Sérgio Ávila announced, adding that it is "a very important signal and an example of external investment."
"We are living in a time when the growth of tourism is a fundamental lever of the new development cycle that we are living in the Azores and, in particular, Terceira Island," said Sérgio Ávila. The government official spoke Thursday at the opening of Cruzeiro Hotel, a four-star hotel unit that represents an investment of 4.5 million Euros.
The Cruzeiro Hotel has 59 rooms and a total of 113 beds, a bar and a restaurant with capacity for 50 people. It is the result of a project for the redevelopment and expansion of the former Cruzeiro Hostel, which has been closed for 19 years. The project was classified as Project of Regional Interest (PIR) and benefited from the Incentive Scheme for Business Competitiveness, Competir+.
"It is a reference in the context of private investment in the Region," said the government official. In this context, he noted that, from the outset, it is "not only an extraordinary idea in terms of the impact on the local economy, but also an example of the new phase of development of our land, particularly as regards the tourism component."
Hence, the Vice-President stressed that the new hotel "values the quality of the tourism offer of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island and the Azores."
"We are in the face of a cycle of confidence and growth in tourism, which is also visible in other areas of the economy," said the government official.
In his speech, the Vice-President pointed out that, last year, the tourism sector grew 23 percent on Terceira Island and another 21.4 percent in the first quarter of this year.
"The sustained growth of tourism has very positive effects on the development of economic activity, increasing employment and reducing unemployment," said Sérgio Ávila.
"At the end of the first quarter of this year, the island of Terceira registered a 16 percent reduction in unemployment compared to the same period of last year," Sérgio Ávila said, adding that this recently opened hotel has created 26 new jobs.
"We are giving prospects of more and better jobs to more people," stressed the government official. According to him, the "structuring moment for the development of Angra do Heroísmo and Terceira Island is an act of determination, courage, vision and entrepreneurship."