The Faial Natural Park received the award “EDEN - European Destination of Excellence” at the solemn ceremony to celebrate the World Tourism Day, which took place in Brussels on the night of September 27.

This award will allow the Azores, through the Faial Natural Park, to consolidate an image of a tourist destination of excellence, combining the development of tourism with the profound respect for the Environment in a sustainable tourism offer.

The Faial Natural Park is the first Portuguese EDEN destination, being the first time that Portugal has applied for this award with significant international relevance.

With this distinction, the Faial Natural Park now belongs to the European Network of Sustainable Tourism Destinations of Excellence, which places the region and, particularly the island of Faial, in the top group of sustainable destinations in Europe.

It should be mentioned that the Pico Natural Park, also located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, was placed second in the national application.

The award ceremony was attended by the Regional Director for the Environment, the Director of Faial Natural Park and the Director of the Department of International Affairs at the Portuguese Tourism Office.

On the occasion, the Regional Director for the Environment, João Bettencourt, said that “the Azores are proud of this award and hope that it may further enhances the promotion of the Region's environmental quality.”