Applications for the senior tourism programme "Meus Açores, Meus Amores" (My Azores, My Love) begins Monday, December 7, and runs until December 23. This is a joint initiative of the Regional Secretariats for Tourism and Transport and Social Solidarity and the Azores Social Security Institute.

This programme is intended for the low and medium seasons. It provides Azorean citizens aged over 60 with the opportunity to enjoy a full package with travel, accommodation, meals, transfers, entertainment and excursions.

 The programme will run between January and June 2016 and will involve all islands of the archipelago, consisting of 30 groups of 40 participants and one group of 16 participants; it may cover a total of 1,216 people.

All groups will be accompanied by a monitor.

The Government of the Azores has enhanced the Senior Tourism programme with the addition of another 276 participants, compared to the previous edition.

The initiative also aims to promote the interaction among Azorean citizens by shortening geographic barriers between the islands and by encouraging domestic tourism among residents in the archipelago.