The President of the Government highlighted on Graciosa island the reduction of the seasonality of tourism that has occurred in the Azores as a result of the policies for the sector that have been implemented in partnership with the private sector.
"This result is being achieved as far as we have managed to grow in the high season, which brings us closer to the seasonality figures registered by the country," said Vasco Cordeiro.
The President of the Government spoke after visiting the Visiting Centre of Furna do Enxofre (Sulphur Cave) located in Caldeira da Graciosa Natural Monument, being the core of the Island Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park.
On the second day of the statutory visit to this island, Vasco Cordeiro mentioned the extension of the so-called tourism high season and, consequently, the reduction of seasonality in the sector.
"This is particularly relevant as our entrepreneurs are concerned about not having periods in the year when the seasonality rate is very pronounced," said the President of the Government. In this context, he noted that the revision of the Tourism Management Programme of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (POTRAA) is currently under way. It is primarily intended to achieve a "good balance between tourism, as a factor of development, wealth generation and job creation, and the preservation of what is ours - our natural heritage."
"These commitments and efforts are to be maintained with POTRAA, with the certification of the Azores as a Sustainable Destination and with a series of initiatives designed to attract tourism markets and enhance the visibility of the Region, being essential for the type of tourism we want to promote and for the boost it gives to job and wealth creation," said the President of the Government.
Regarding the Visiting Centre of Furna do Enxofre, Vasco Cordeiro stated that this is an "important factor in the promotion of the regional natural heritage offer by creating better conditions for visitors in a sustained manner."
"The strategy aimed at boosting our natural heritage is part of a series of guidelines" that have been implemented in this sector, the President of the Government ensured, highlighting the results produced by this strategy in recent years.
"If we take 2018 as reference, overnight stays in traditional hotels and other types of accommodation grew over seven percent in Region. Besides the growth in the number of overnight stays, there was also an increase in the revenue per room, which stood at seven percent. In the case of Graciosa, the growth of overnight stays was over six percent, but the increase of revenue stood at around eight percent," said Vasco Cordeiro."