The Regional Director for Tourism pointed out in Praia da Vitória the importance of the 2nd Azores Triathlon by conciliating three sports that are in line with the concept of an active nature tourist destination, through which the Azores have become internationally recognised.
 
Filipe Macedo emphasised that this event, which brought together about 50 participants from 16 countries, demonstrated that the Azores are a privileged place for the practice of Triathlon, either for the organisation of competitions or for the training activities designed for individual athletes, clubs or teams.
 
The Regional Director spoke Sunday at the Azores Triathlon prize-delivery ceremony, an event attended by athletes from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Belgium, England, Canada, Hungary, Brazil, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland and Slovakia.
 
"The geomorphological conditions of the island allow the creation of an ideal path that has been praised by all athletes, who dazzled by it, despite considering the competition demanding," said Filipe Macedo.
 
The Regional Director also stated that the "organisation of the event has always considered the need to give an international dimension to event. Its organisational and sporting success will certainly have repercussions in the promotion of the Azores destination, through the personal pages of athletes and coaches as well as on those of media that covered by event.
 
"The Azores Triathlon allows, in a particular way, to promote the sea and its activities through swimming, the landscape through cycling, and building heritage through the race, as it takes place between the seaside avenue and various houses in the city of Praia da Vitória," said the government official. He also pointed out the "tourism entertainment component and the stimulation of the economy" arising from the organisation of the event on Terceira.
 
"If this event continues to have an organisational and sporting success, it will strengthen the promotion of Praia da Vitória and the Azores as a place of choice for the practice of water sports and sports involving direct contact with nature."
 
Filipe Macedo also pointed out that if this competition is carried out in the midseason or low season, "it may be even considered an anchor event in the efforts to tackle the seasonality of the tourism sector."