The signing of a financial support protocol between the Government of the Azores and the Holy Christ of Miracles Brotherhood “should not be regarded as a mere allocation of benefits, but also as a support to the meritorious work developed by this institution, which also converges to the Region’s goals for the tourism sector,” defended the Regional Secretary for the Economy in Ponta Delgada on Thursday morning.

Vasco Cordeiro spoke at the signing ceremony of a protocol with that entity for the organisation of the Holy Christ of Miracles Festivities 2011 and reminded that “regardless of faith or the religious nature of these festivities,” this support “is fully justified given the Government’s strategic interest in the development of Tourism. In this context, Religious Tourism is one of the dimensions to be promoted, whose importance was acknowledged in a study recently conducted by the Regional Tourism Observatory.”

“The reason why this support is allocated is primarily due to the work carried by the Brotherhood and their contribution to the promotion and organisation of the Holy Christ of Miracles Festivities, which is also a service rendered to the Azores, to the Tourism sector and to the regional economy as well,” stated the Secretary.

The Regional Secretary for the Economy thus denied “any business view regarding these festivities”: “pilgrimages to various places around the world are very important not only from a religious perspective, but also from an economic standpoint, particularly for the services related to tourism, such as the case of the hotel and restaurant sectors for that reason their economic impact cannot be ignored,” added Vasco Cordeiro.

Moreover, “it is important to mention that the National Geographic Traveller magazine highlighted the Azores as one of the ten best trips of summer 2011 this week, stressing our religious festivities as one of the distinctive aspects of our Region, such as the case of the Holy Spirit festivities as well as the Holy Christ of Miracles festival, the Lenten Pilgrimage, among others.”

This “set of religious initiatives that have been developed are areas which should be promoted to strengthen the prominence of the Azores,” defended the Secretary.

Under the protocol signed on Thursday, the Azorean Government granted the Holy Christ of Miracles Brotherhood a support in the amount of 28 thousand Euros to through the public support scheme for initiatives, actions and events with significant impact on the external promotion of the Azores Destination.