The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism restated on Graciosa that all the islands of the Azores should promote their specific products, emphasising their peculiarities.
 
"The Strategic Plan and Marketing of the Azores Tourism also includes the dissemination of the anchor products we have in the Azores, which are not the same on all islands," said Marta Guerreiro. She spoke Wednesday at the end of meetings with tourism agents on Graciosa, including travel agents linked to rural tourism, marine tourism operators, representatives of tourism developments and travel agents.
 
Marta Guerreiro stressed that this island should focus on nature tourism, whose primary attractions should include diving, hydrotherapy, bird watching and geotourism, highlighting its classification as Biosphere Reserve.
 
"Hydrotherapy is the main specificity of Graciosa that goes back in time. It has a very significant impact on the development of health activities and, therefore, must be efficiently promoted and disseminated," said the government official.
 
Under the strategy for the Azores tourism, the Regional Secretary has been meeting with industry partners so that the policies to be developed are as most concerted as possible among all players, emphasising the importance of joint work.
 
"We had the opportunity to talk to those who are on the ground about several topics. We have discussed the type of accommodation that best suits the island of Graciosa and the current situation in which a large hotel coexists with smaller high-quality rural tourism accommodation units. Furthermore, we also discussed the products that may be developed," said Marta Guerreiro.
 
The Government of the Azores is committed to maintaining an intensive dialogue with all players in the sector, promoting the sharing of knowledge, identifying critical areas, developing solutions and advocating planning that is aware of trends and local specificities.