The President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, expressed today his belief that the potential of the Canadian market for Azores Tourism should not be limited to the Azorean emigrant communities residing in that country.

"I emphasise the importance and potential of the Canadian market to the Azores, which includes emigrant communities and Canadian tourists, taking into account some aspects of Azores Tourism such as nature and sea," said Vasco Cordeiro.

After receiving the Ambassador of Canada, Heidi Kutz, in Ponta Delgada, the President of the Government added that there are some ongoing actions developed by the Azores Tourism Association as well as by SATA in the area of air accessibility.

"We need to work even harder for this potential to be fully maximised in order to increase the impact of Canada in the regional tourism sector," defended Vasco Cordeiro.

At the meeting with the Ambassador of Canada, the President of the Government also addressed the trade negotiations between the EU and Canada, a subject with some importance for the Azores. In this regard, the Region has already expressed its interests on this matter through its representative institutions at the European Union.

Moreover, Vasco Cordeiro expressed the concern to make the Azoreans who wish to emigrate acquainted with all the requirements for it so that they may take this decision with the best possible knowledge.

"The Government of the Azores is neither encouraging anyone to emigrate nor is preventing anyone from doing so. However, our major concern is that those who wish to emigrate may do so with full knowledge on the requirements for the country they wish to emigrate," concluded the President of the Government.