The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport reminded that to date, the National Government has yet to follow up the proposed revision of the Air Transport Public Service Obligations, considering that it is necessary “to be careful as the decisions taken by the National Government have not been favourable to the Azores.”

Vítor Fraga delivered a speech on “Development and Sustainability: Challenges of the present to ensure the future” during a lunch organised by the Ponta Delgada Rotary Club. The government official said he hopes that “all this waiting” is not just a pretext “to find a solution that is bad for the Azores and the Azoreans.”

The Regional Secretary restated that the definition of Public Service Obligations “is a responsibility that falls under the responsibilities of the National Government.” However, he assured that “we will fight to the end in order to defend the interests of the Azores and the Azorean people” and avoid the implementation of “measures and decisions that might be detrimental to the Azores and the Azoreans.”

For Vítor Fraga, the Government of the Azores has presented a proposal that it believes the best as this proposal ensures the accessibility of the Azorean population as well as a competitive sector that allows increased flows to the Region.

During his speech, the Regional Secretary also addressed the Tourism sector and announced that by the beginning of October, the Government will “develop a programme targeted at the hotel and restaurant sectors with the aim of implementing energy efficiency measures, thus actively contributing to the reduction of energy consumption and costs in these units.”

This measure is part of a series of support mechanisms that have been created for companies operating locally.

Vítor Fraga mentioned the recent reduction in the maritime tourism operator fees by 50 percent and the creation of a programme to support hotels and restaurants in the purchase of regional products as examples of a "series of measures" that have been implemented in recent months "to support and streamline business activity."