The Regional Director for Tourism stated today that the Azores are becoming a "special destination" for the practice of surfing activities, stressing the "good waves" of the archipelago's sea for those who practice this sport.

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport at the presentation of SATA Airlines Azores Pro, taking place on Santa Bárbara beach, João Bettencourt emphasised that the Azores have been "widely recognised as destination for water and wave sports, such as Surf."

According to the Regional Director for Tourism, this recognition is mainly the result of the "commitment of private entities and the organisers of these events, who have been able to raise the Azores to prominence with the support of local authorities and the Regional Government."

In this regard, the government official underlined that the organisation of international events such as SATA Airlines Azores Pro, one of the most important events of the world surfing circuit, "contributes to the international recognition of the Azores as a special place for the practice of this sport."

By becoming associated with the organisation of such sports events, "the Azores will benefit in terms of tourism promotion," through the dissemination of images and dissemination of the Region by athletes among their peers, "which will increase the number of people visiting the Azores for the practice of surfing." They will have the opportunity to know the best the archipelago has to offer, i.e., its natural resources.

The Regional Director hopes that this edition of SATA Airlines Azores Pro will be a success. In this regard, he reiterated the Government's availability to cooperate in the organisation of future events and pointed out the work that is being done to "raise the Azores to prominent positions with regard to the development of this sport."