The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport announced the entry into force of the support for recreational and promotion activities and improvement of the tourism offer, which he considered to be critical to the competitiveness of the Azores destination. This support measure amounts to six million Euros.

Speaking at the presentation of the Azores Triangle Adventure - Trail Run on Pico, a competition that will cover the "Triangle Islands" (Pico, São Jorge and Faial), Vítor Fraga considered that this event as an example that falls within the strategy to boost regional tourism. Indeed, it shows "the best that the Region has to offer" in terms of Nature Tourism, without being limited to the contemplation of Nature.

In this context, the government official reminded that the order stipulating the amount of the support at one million Euros was published on Friday. Under the regional legislative decree no.18/2005/A, the support will be granted to associations and individual promoters of tourism recreational activities, including the Azores Triangle Adventure.

The resolution of the Council of the Government that sets the financial amount for the preparation of contract-programmes to be signed with non-profit organisations at 5.3 million Euros entered into force Friday. According to the regional legislative decree no.30/2006/A, this measure covers projects of public interest for the promotion and improvement of the tourism offer.

"Therefore, we have an estimated investment over six million Euros under these two orders with a clear goal: the development of the tourism sector and the development and promotion of the Azores destination," said the Regional Secretary.

"This is our commitment and this is, once again, a commitment that we were able to fulfil," stressed Vítor Fraga. According to him, it is essential for the Government to work side by side with regional entrepreneurs and promoters in the development of their activities so that the tourism sector may increasingly become a generator of wealth and contribute to the creation and maintenance of jobs.

"The Government of the Azores has clearly defined that the promotion of events and the support to their organisation were part of the strategy for the promotion of the archipelago abroad. This is how the Government joins the organisation of this type of initiatives as long as they bring economic return," stressed Vítor Fraga. This return is expected in terms of promotion since these initiatives promote a direct contact with the public by disseminating the assets of the Region and increasing tourism flows.