The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport announced on Graciosa Island a package of measures prepared by the Azorean Government to revitalise the tourism industry on this island and on Santa Maria. These measures will boost the competitiveness of both islands in the growing market of regional tourism.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony of the Grand Route of Graciosa/Biosphere, Vítor Fraga stressed the need to closely examine the significant growth of the tourism sector in the Region, which grew over 20% between November 2014 and May 2015.

"This overall increase over 20% in the tourism industry, as already stated by the President of the Regional Government, has led us to identify the islands that are not keeping pace with this trend, namely Graciosa and Santa Maria, and to implement the appropriate measures to revitalise the sector on these islands," said Vítor Fraga.

In this regard, the government official announced some of the measures to be implemented, such as the increase in the number of visitors on the islands of Graciosa and S. Jorge under the "My Azores, My Love" programme, with an estimate of 1,584 overnight stays on each island."

The government official announced the "implementation of a campaign with a national operator, with two specific packs, in order to take advantage of the complementarity between neighbouring islands - Terceira/Graciosa and São Miguel/Santa Maria - with potential for more than 5,600 overnight stays."

Under the new Public Service Obligations, the weekly calls on Graciosa will increase from eight to 12 in the next IATA winter.

For Santa Maria, there will be a specific campaign to be implemented by a local operator in partnership with Atlânticoline.

These actions will be complemented with the development of promotional activities among operators working in the area of diving, on both islands, and bird watching, specifically for the island of Graciosa.

"Unlike some, who use statistics as a political show-off, we use them as a working tool in order to adopt the most appropriate measures and strategies for every moment," said Vítor Fraga. The Regional Secretary highlighted the Regional Government's commitment to continue working hard to turn tourism into an increasingly sustainable sector and build a common path for the promotion of the Azores destination with the joint efforts of entrepreneurs.

"The improvement of the regional tourism offer is essential in building a destination," said the Regional Secretary. According to him, "this Grand Route falls under this perspective, such as the grand routes of Flores, Faial, São Jorge and Santa Maria. Given their size, diversity and territorial range, they offer a series of activities that attract tourists who love nature."

The Grand Route of Graciosa Island is a circular trail with an extension of 40 kilometres and a low level of difficulty. It was designed to take advantage of the island's scenic beauty, being another regional investment in active adventure tourism.