The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport, Vítor Fraga, announced the reinforcement in the promotion of paragliding in the Azores, which will start this year.

"Under the Visitazores initiative, we will create a specific area for the promotion of this activity. This space will contain the sites in Azores that are suited for the practice of paragliding and provide adequate technical information to visitors so that they can have all the conditions to have a good flight," stated Vítor Fraga. The government official spoke on the sidelines of the closing of the 20th Azores Paragliding Festival last Saturday.

The Regional Secretary considered paragliding as an exemplary activity for the promotion of the Region, as it presents a unique way of combining the lush beauty of nature with the strong emotions that are sought after by those who practice this sport.

"Paragliding is a sport and a tourism product that is in line with the main characteristics of the Azores destination, i.e., a nature-oriented destination that goes beyond a mere contemplative nature destination. In fact, our aim is to promote an active nature destination that provides unique moments and sensations to those who visit us as well as to those who practice paragliding," said Vítor Fraga.

In his speech, the government official revealed that the Government will intensively promote paragliding in the media, a joint initiative with Clube Asas de São Miguel. This promotional campaign aims to disseminate paragliding "as an activity of excellence and the Azores as a destination of excellence for the practice of this activity."

"The use of new technologies is a clear and objective strategy that we are implementing. We are aware that they play a relevant role in the promotion of any destination as well as in the increase of tourism flows. This is an area where we have a very strong impact and, in this context, we intend to strengthen it. Indeed, the promotion of differentiating tourism products plays a key role in attracting tourism flows to the Region," noted Vítor Fraga.

The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport congratulated Clube Asas de São Miguel for its work. It has contributed to the consolidation of this sport over the years as well as to the creation of a "solid event in the Azores that contributes to the promotion of the Azores destination."