Berta Cabral announces investment of more than 19 million Euros for tourism development in 2024
Ponta Delgada
Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas
The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, announced an investment of more than 19 million Euros for tourism development in the Azores next year.
During the hearing at the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs on the Regional Government's Investment Plan for 2024, Berta Cabral emphasised that tourism "is the most important and comprehensive sector of the regional economy and the one with the greatest potential for generating wealth, creating jobs and boosting all the other productive sectors."
"We are presenting a proposal amounting to more than 19 million Euros for tourism development, focussing on improving the quality of the tourism offer but also on increasingly selective action in terms of external promotion," she said.
The Regional Secretary added that the level of investment in the destination's sustainability will practically be doubled, focusing, above all, on the introduction of an innovative approach to managing tourist flows, which reinforces the commitment to achieving the Gold level of the "Sustainable Destination" certification in 2024.
Meanwhile, the government official pointed out that, in complementary terms and as far as mobility is concerned, the overall investment proposed amounts to 167 million Euros, leveraged by EU funds through the Regional Port Authorities, for structuring projects in the regional economy.
With regard to port and airport infrastructures, Berta Cabral mentioned a direct intervention in, at least, ten ports on the nine islands, in addition to other investments in infrastructures, notably the redevelopment of the Cais do Pico bay and the investment in the project to expand the multipurpose pier of the Praia da Vitória. Port.
She also emphasised the investment in improving the operation and safety of five airport infrastructures that fall under the Region's jurisdiction, with special emphasis on the ongoing works to extend the runway of Pico airport, the expansion of Graciosa air terminal and the new air terminal on the island of Corvo.
"The constant improvement of the air and sea transport system in a sustainable manner is one of the main objectives of the Regional Government, with a view to ensuring its efficiency, predictability and stability to promote a true internal market in the Region," he emphasised.
As such, there will be a 20% increase in investment in the public inter-island air and maritime transport service, ensuring the maintenance of Public Service Obligations in both modes. Furthermore, we will see "the growth of one of the most successful measures of regional autonomy ("Azores Fare"), representing a historic milestone in the mobility of Azoreans, in the development of domestic tourism and in the consolidation of the identity of the Azores."
Berta Cabral added that the Regional Government will continue to invest next year in the promotion of transport, the improvement of the maritime freight transport model, the full implementation of the Azores Transport Plan and the development of a medium-term strategic plan for the Ponta Delgada Port, in addition to increasing the support for local traffic with a view to the modernisation of the fleet.
The recovery of the damage caused by Hurricane Lorenzo will also be a priority in 2024, with the construction of the new Lajes das Flores Port being a top priority. The work is due to start in the first half of next year.
With regard to public passenger transport, the new system for the provision of services on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial will also be a priority for next year as well as the innovative measure to encourage the decarbonisation of the taxi fleet and the maintenance of the Free Social Fare.
