"Extreme West Atlantic Adventure" attracts very important tourism flows for the economy of Flores and Corvo, says Regional Director
The Regional Director for Tourism stressed in Santa Cruz das Flores the importance of hosting the trail run event designated as "Extreme West Atlantic Adventure," considering that it attracts “very important tourism flows for the economy of Flores and Corvo islands."
Marlene Damião spoke Sunday at the prize-delivery ceremony of the second edition of this competition, an event that gathered national and foreign athletes who participated in the three stages.
The Regional Director noted that this is “another major event organised under the Azores Trail Run brand. It also includes the "Whalers Great Route Ultra Trail" on Faial Island, the "Triangle Adventure," which, besides Faial, covers the islands of Pico and São Jorge, the "Columbus Trail Run" on Santa Maria Island and the "Graciosa Windmills Trail."
“Since 2014, this brand has been gaining prominence in national and international trail run circuits, attracting to the Azores an increasing number of athletes from all over the world,” added the government official.
Marlene Damião stressed that “this has been a winning strategy" as far as “these five major events have brought to the archipelago many hundreds of visitors outside the high season, including athletes, supporters and their accompanying delegations."
“The Regional Government will continue to support this type of initiatives, regarding these sporting projects as unique opportunities to promote the best we have to offer,” said the Regional Director. In this regard, she pointed out “the fantastic hiking trails as well as the exuberance and diversity of the landscape of these two beautiful islands located on the westernmost end of the archipelago of the Azores and Europe."
On the occasion, Marlene Damião praised the Ilha Azul Independent Athletics Club as "the major driving force of the extraordinary dynamics of Trail Run competitions in the Region."