The Vice-President of the Government considered today that the Flores Hotel, with an estimated cost of 5.5 million Euros, is a “strategic investment” for the Western group islands.
With this project, the Government intends “to reinforce and boost the economic dynamics, and to increase the prestige and visibility of this magnificent island,” stated Sérgio Ávila at the opening ceremony of the hotel, to which he presided over in Santa Cruz das Flores today.
According to the Vice-President, the Flores Hotel will prove itself as “decisive factor” for the sustained development and growth of the island, thus providing a direct and indirect “boost to its levels of employment, production and income, which will benefit all Flores islanders.”
Sérgio Ávila also reminded that this hotel unit will bring “undeniable advantages” for Flores Island, whether by the creation of a different type of tourism offer which has been lacking hitherto on the island, whether by its contribution to the diversification of the tourism offer in the Region.
For the Vice-President, this undertaking should be regarded by the tourism businessmen of Flores “without any fear of competition,” but rather “as a new ally in the consolidation of the tourism sector on Flores.”
With this project, enhancer of new business opportunities, we have managed “to follow, in a harmonious, competent and professional approach, the demands of the market, both in quantity and in quality,” added Sérgio Ávila.
According to the Vice-President of the Government, “the conditions to consolidate and strengthen a sustainability strategy concerning the offer of Flores Island as a tourism destination, complementing with other islands of the Archipelago have been met.”
Sérgio Ávila also announced that the Government will begin to develop the Strategic Plan for the Azores Cohesion this year, a “strategic and operational tool” that will enable the introduction of benefits that will positively discriminate the smaller islands.
The idea, as Sérgio Ávila explained, is to identify, support and encourage the development of new areas of economic activity on these islands, “qualifying its economic activity which generates more added value as well as enhancing the creation of wealth and particularly of qualified jobs.”
Regarding the projects which the Government has recently boosted, the Vice-President highlighted the construction of the Graciosa Hotel, opened in July, the Santa Maria Golf Camp, whose project will be concluded soon, representing an investment exceeding 15 million Euros and the São Jorge Youth Hostel, a work whose public call for tenders will be launched in September.
“These are investments that have promoted the diversification and qualification of the tourism offer, highlighting the strengths and potentialities that each island can provide,” said Sérgio Ávila.