The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport said today in Horta that the Azores should look upon the past not only to preserve it, but also "to benefit from its experience in order to boost the development of the Region in the future."

In this regard, Vítor Fraga defended the importance of seizing "the potential brought by the central position of the Azores, with special emphasis on the important role played by the city of Horta in a global context in a relatively recent past."

Speaking at the launch of the stamp issue "The Planes that the Azores know," the Regional Secretary praised CTT (Portuguese Post Office) for this initiative, highlighting its relevance "not only in terms of the preservation of our past, but in terms of the dissemination of the Region." According to him, this type of initiative "will pave the way for the creation of a cultural tourism itinerary."

As Vítor Fraga revealed, the itinerary will focus on the city of Horta and will "certainly help mitigating one the factors affecting the regional tourism sector - seasonality."

In his speech, the government official highlighted the relevance of preserving the memory of the accomplishments made by aeronautical pioneers in the Azores, whose geostrategic position has earned them a prominent position in the establishment of global air transport.

"Nowadays, it is fundamental to recall these moments of our Azorean history. We are the heirs of these unprecedented, original and authentic deeds," highlighted Vítor Fraga.

"The stamps launched today are the evidence of this fact. They also represent the tenacity of the men and women who, over the years, have used their ideas, their creativity and initiative to overcome barriers, create and maintain companies, and to disseminate new worlds, a cultural heritage and good memories," added the government official.

The stamp issue, designed by Francisco Galamba, depicts, among other elements, a Boeing 314 seaplane operated by Pan American Airways that was commonly known as "Clipper." This aircraft was a regular at Horta Bay in the 1930s.