The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport assured that, through the new incentive scheme - Competir+, the Government will support outdoor tourism leisure activities as well as nature and adventure tourism that are in line with the goals of the Azores Destination. The subsidisation rate can reach 55 to 65 percent of the overall investment.

Speaking at the end of a visit to company Pico Sport that took place in Madalena on Wednesday, Vítor Fraga stressed that the actions taken fall within "a perspective based on the promotion of tourism products that are clearly in line with the goals of the Azores Destination." In this regard, the Government will remain as an "active partner of these companies."

The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport revealed that tourism leisure activities have registered a considerable evolution throughout the years, as evidenced by the significant number of companies that currently work in this area.

In this context, the government official noted the growth of seven percent compared to 2013; currently, there are almost 220 tourism leisure companies.

According to Vítor Fraga, the "main challenge" is to render these companies capable "to carry out their activities simultaneously with the promotion of other products in order to make them complementary."

For the Regional Secretary, companies directed at specific activities should "undertake a clear effort to promote land-based activities that have the potential to complement the available offer in the low season," thus providing an integrated offer that brings added value to the tourism sector.