The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated today that the new accessibility model, in force since March 29, "generates great expectations" regarding the development of Rural Tourism.

Vítor Fraga spoke after visiting the "Casa das Pereiras" in Calheta do Nesquim, pointing out that Rural Tourism experienced its best year in 2014, either in terms of overnight stays or in terms of revenue. The government conveyed his belief that "the results in the future will be even better than those we have achieved so far, because we now have access to new market segments, particularly those that value what we have to offer as a destination."

The Regional Secretary recalled that Rural Tourism in the Azores "is a national reference," bearing in mind that its representativeness regarding the number of available beds is about 10%. In the case of Mainland Portugal, it only represents two to three percent."

For Vítor Fraga, the project he visited today evidences “a climate of trust among businesspeople as a result of this effort and the good results the industry has achieved."

"Rural Tourism is a perfect symbiosis between our identity as a tourist destination, our indigenous features and the cultural reality of our Region. It provides all those who visit us with the opportunity to live unique moments among the population of each of our islands," said the Regional Secretary.