The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stated on Santa Maria that the Regional Government will continue focusing on projects that enhance unique experiences in the Azores as a tourist destination, highlighting the fifth edition of Tremor Festival.
 
"The experience we are living today is a true example of how the Azores Destination is not only attractive for its diversity, namely in terms of its geographical features, but also for what each island has to offer," said Marta Guerreiro. She spoke on occasion of the special edition of "Tremor in the Greenhouse," an initiative that was for the first time extended to another island.
 
The Secretary for Tourism stressed that the "Regional Government had to join this initiative. It provided 50 people with the opportunity to embark on trip from São Miguel Island to Santa Maria Island in a totally different way, as none of the participants knew where this 14-hour experience would take place."
 
"The enthusiasm is present and this is quite visible in each of the participants who have had the opportunity to travel to Santa Maria to attend a concert and tour the island. The experience also allows them to contact with Santa Maria islander as well as with their tourism products and their specificities," said Marta Guerreiro.
 
During this 14-hour tour, participants made several stops in places such as Praia Formosa beach, São Lourenço bay, Pico Alto hill, Poço da Pedreira and Barreio da Faneca. Moreover, they participated in a workshop on "biscoitos de orelha" (ear biscuit), a traditional biscuit from Santa Maria. They also attended the concert performed by Boogarins in downtown Vila do Porto and had the opportunity to become acquainted with local cultural associations that publicise their events outside the island.
 
The Regional Secretary emphasised that this "proposal for the enjoyment of music in unusual spaces, linked to the cultural and historical heritage of the Azores, is in line with the concept intended for tourism in the Azores."
 
"Based on an active nature tourism, we are sure that culture and art should be part of a set of products we have available to those who visit us. In fact, tourists increasingly seek to know how we live, what we eat as well as the places and products that are unique in our traditions," stressed Marta Guerreiro.
 
The Regional Secretary also pointed out that the "fact that the Azores are an archipelago region, made up of nine different parts, should be regarded as a challenge, starting from their location in the middle of the Atlantic as an important feature for increasing tourism flows."
 
"The mitigation of seasonality is one of the concerns of the Azorean Government, which regards the organisation of this event as another boost in demand during periods of less tourist activity. In this case, it lives up to the term "creative holidays" insofar as it combines environmental heritage with cultural and artistic sharing," said the government official.