The Regional Director for Tourism stressed the importance of initiatives such as "Columbus Trail Run," stressing that they confirm the direction of the active nature tourism policy as defined by the Strategic Marketing Plan of Azores Tourism. It has been implemented by the Government the Azores and private sector agents as a tool that differentiates this destination.
 
Filipe Macedo spoke on Santa Maria at the prize-delivery ceremony of the second edition, which was attended by about one hundred and fifty athletes; 120 are international athletes from 10 different countries.
 
The Regional Director stressed this is a competition with a considerable economic impact on Santa Maria. It has great relevance in a local context and also contributes to the projection of the island at international level.
 
"We are talking about the month of February, a traditionally low season for tourism in the Azores which is reflected in the activities of companies working in the hotel, restaurant and tourism recreation. Therefore, it is with great satisfaction that we see that Vila do Porto and Santa Maria are full of people," Filipe Macedo. The government official highlighted the atmosphere before and after this important event to the island's economic fabric as an initiative intended to mitigate seasonality in the sector.
 
In his speech, he also highlighted the fact that event's organisation has managed to involve the local population in the competition with more than 150 volunteers. This evidences that Columbus Trail Run" is already considered by the local society as their Trail Run competition.
 
"It is important to challenge private entities operating in the tourism sector so that they may regard these events as an investment in promotion of the Azores and of each of the entities, namely hotels, restaurants and tourism recreation companies. During a growing phase in the consolidation of tourism, we also expect that they may actively contribute to this project, which belongs to all of us," said Filipe Macedo.