The Regional Director for Tourism stated in Vila do Porto that the Regional Government will continue "to invest in nature events as a way of mitigating seasonality and promoting the archipelago as a nature destination based on experiences."
Cíntia Martins spoke Saturday at the delivery of the Azores Columbus Trail Run awards. On the occasion, she stated that this sporting event offers participants "unique competition scenarios, while highlighting hiking trails as a tourism product on an island tailored to geotourism associated with fossils, diving with giant manta rays and sea activities."
Currently, there are 82 authorised trails in the Azores that stretch over an area of about 810 kilometres, which have greatly contributed to the international recognition of this tourism product.
The Regional Director stated this competition is "one of the major trail run events. It has taken the Azores further in recent years, in addition to annually bringing many hundreds of people to the Region outside the high season. The event also has a direct positive impact on the local economy, while giving us the opportunity to show the best we have to offer."
The Azores Columbus Trail Run brought to the island of Santa Maria about 250 athletes from 10 countries.