The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport said today at the Top in St. George, the creation of 'Great Routes' in the archipelago diversifies the tourism values and the Azores destination.
 
Speaking at the opening of the Grand Route of São Jorge, Vítor Fraga said "the major routes, due to their size and territorial scope, have a higher degree of difficulty, attracting active tourism lovers as well as adventure and environmentally demanding tourism."
 
In this regard, the government official stressed that they are "tourist capital gains that value the archipelago, the islands and the areas where they are located."
 
"It is essential to have this perspective of development of tourism products that add value to the economy of each of our villages, which contribute to our integrated tourism offer," said the Secretary for Tourism.
 
"Their distinguishing character and the perfect symbiosis with the environmental nature of our destination turns these places into the desirable venue for the organisation of international trail run events, such as the Azores Triangle Adventure, the Trail Run and the Ultra Trail on Faial, and the Columbus Trail on Santa Maria," added the government official.
 
For Vítor Fraga, all these events are "likely to increase international projection of the archipelago as a reference of active and nature tourism."
 
According to the Regional Secretary, the Great Route of São Jorge is "a further contribution to the enrichment and diversification of the island's tourism offer, which is already the stage of important events for regional tourism, such as the Rural Tourism Biennial, held recently. This specific event has become annual and will be held again this year in October as a follow-up to what has been previously announced under the Azores Nature: the Stand up Paddle crossing, which connects São Jorge and Pico, and the Canyoning International Meeting."
 
Vítor Fraga pointed out that these events "have greatly contribute to the tourism development of São Jorge, in particular, and the archipelago, in general, either in the increase of tourism flows or in the promotion of market segments that search for a destination with the Azores' features."
 
"The visibility of the Azores destination will be enhanced and will greatly benefit from the media coverage of these events. This will contribute to the construction of a tourist destination that will be increasingly sustainable, generate wealth, preserve and create jobs and play a major role in a Region like ours, that is, play a role that makes tourism good for those who live here," said Vítor Fraga.
 
The Great Route of São Jorge, which stretches over an extension of 40 kilometres, runs through the island from Topo Village to Fajã dos Cubres. This trail sets off to discover the local specificities of "fajãs" (geological formations) endemic flora, architecture, culture , heritage and São Jorge landscapes, with special emphasis on the "fajãs"; the latter were recently classified as a Biosphere Reserve. This distinction has turned the island of São Jorge into a destination suited for nature tourism activities, including hiking, geotourism and canyoning, which were listed in the Strategic and Marketing Plan of the Azores Tourism as the primary attraction products of São Jorge Island.