The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Ponta Delgada that the new air transport model will boost the central position of the Azores in terms of transport accessibility. This model is designed to increase the influx of tourists and ensure the mobility of the Azorean population at affordable prices.
"It is time to move on and develop the Azores not as peripheral tourist destination, but rather as central point between two blocs with high purchasing power - America and Europe - which are separated by just a few hours of flight," stressed Vítor Fraga at the presentation of operation model for the Azores by low-cost airline Easyjet.
"As a result of the work we have done, often in a discrete manner, these distances are being increasingly shortened, but there are still many challenges to overcome," said the Regional Secretary.
In this context, the government official highlighted the challenge for entrepreneurs to seize the potential of the new accessibility model and allow the Azores to compete in an increasingly global market, where every tourist "is fiercely disputed by destinations that have been consolidated over time and with a solid reputation."
Vítor Fraga noted that, despite the extensive media coverage on the liberalisation of air routes given the expectations of business sector and the society in general, the new model also focuses on an "essential aspect," which is to guarantee the accessibility of all Azoreans to outside the archipelago.
"We have always defended this component as fundamental and irreplaceable, even when some defended that the liberalisation of routes should be the main goal, which could be, perchance, detrimental to the protection of smaller islands or routes with lower demand," said the government official.
According to Vítor Fraga, "this has never been an option for the Government of the Azores, which has always assumed that any evolution in this process should never be done at the expense of some, but always for the benefit of all."
In his speech, Vítor Fraga also recalled that the Regional Government is working on the revision of Public Service Obligations for Inter-island Air and Maritime Transport, under the Integrated Transport Plan.
"This process is near conclusion and is about to accomplish the goal towards the increase of connectivity levels between all islands at fair price that is suited to the available demand," said the Regional Secretary.