The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Santa Cruz das Flores that the dynamics of the tourism sector provided a decisive contribution to the creation of jobs in the Azores.
For Vítor Fraga, this dynamic has contributed to the fact that there are, currently, "more employed Azoreans and the unemployment rate is the lowest of the last five years, thus responding to one of the Regional Government's main priorities for this legislative period."
The Secretary for Tourism spoke Thursday at the opening of the Grand Route of Flores, pointing out that the known indicators regarding the first half of 2016 show that the Azores remain "in a growth dynamics that has been quite evident in recent years, particularly in 2015."
"As for accommodation, and considering all types, we registered in the first half of 2016 187,500 more overnight stays compared to 2015, which represents a growth of 33.3%, and 344,706 more overnight stays than in 2012, corresponding to an increase of 85.3%," stressed the government official.
"We are facing a sector that builds trust among entrepreneurs, which is reflected in the many investments that are emerging on all the islands," Vítor Fraga said, noting that there were 11,808 beds in 2012 and today there are 15,162 beds, which corresponds to a growth of over 28%.
According to the Regional Secretary, there were 117 tourist entertainment companies in 2012 and today there are 298, which represent a growth of 154%.
"This dynamics is quite evident on the island of Flores," the government official said, revealing that the number of beds increase from 443 in 2012 to 500, while tourist entertainment and maritime-tourism companies almost doubled in the same period, from five to nine.
In his speech, Vítor Fraga said that, over the past four years, the Government of the Azores has made a strong investment in the quality of the tourism offer, including the network of pedestrian trails. The government official noted that the archipelago currently has "more than 80 trails," with an extension exceeding 800 kilometres that covers all islands.
Currently, the Azores have five Grand routes, being located on the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, São Jorge, Faial and, now, on Flores.
The Grand Route of Flores, opened Thursday, has an extension of 46 kilometres. According to Vítor Fraga, "it allows a direct contact with nature" and runs along a path that "boost the development of the local economy of each village."
"We are certain that this Grand Route will contribute to the promotion of the tourist experience of those who visit us," said Vítor Fraga.