The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism highlighted today the importance of the Azores Trail Run in Horta for the assertion of the archipelago as an active nature tourist destination, being in line with sector's strategy in the Region.
 
"This type of initiatives allows us to increase the visibility of our destination with a strong focus on nature, as a differentiating element in the tourist offer, considering that it presents itself as an anchor event with a high level of promotion," stressed Marta Guerreiro at the presentation of the sixth edition of this competition.
 
The Secretary for Tourism stressed that this event will “turn the archipelago into a privileged place for sports events, showing its beautiful landscape to all participants and those accompanying them in a true experience of contact with nature."
 
According to Marta Guerreiro, the event, with around 700 participants from 23 countries, is "an event of great importance for the revitalisation of the local economy."
 
"We know that hotels and the flights will be full at the time of the event, which we regard with the thrill of emotions of those who are about to arrive on the ground to participate in this race of rails, which starts on May 26," said the government official.
 
Marta Guerreiro also stressed that the time of year when these initiatives take place "is an important asset to combat the challenges imposed by seasonality," attracting market segments that visit the archipelago outside the high tourist season. According to her, during this time "it is possible to find the best conditions for the practice of sports and other activities."
 
In her speech, the Regional Secretary considered that it is a priority to "develop a policy that favours initiatives with effective return, whether in promotion or in the increase of tourism flows. Hence, we will further encourage this type of sports event that contributes to sustainability of the sector."