Tourism product on Santa Maria Island with new business opportunities linked to cycling - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, through the Regional Directorate for Tourism, presented yesterday, at the Santa Maria Museum, the Cycl’in Azores project to the local sector. 

"The investment in the Cycl'in Azores network infrastructure will improve the available offer on the island of Santa Maria", said the Regional Director of Tourism, Rosa Costa, adding that this will "boost one of the products identified in PEMTA (tourism plan) as a priority for this island."

The presentation of the cycling network created for the enduro MTB, cross country, gravel and road categories was attended by several entities, including the Mayor of Vila do Porto and the President of the Azores Cycling Association. It also included a training session aimed at the companies present from the different branches of the sector, such as catering, rent-a-cars, accommodation and tourist entertainment.

The training session highlighted the existence of very favourable conditions for the emergence of new services and businesses linked to cycling. According to the Regional Director for Tourism, "it is intended that a consolidated tourist product may be created from an activity already carried out by many locals."

"Therefore, it is important that Santa Maria entrepreneurs have the knowledge to leverage the conditions that are now available to capitalise on their investments and diversify their revenue," she continued.

Rosa Costa also highlighted the possibility of combining products. In this regard, she stated that "Santa Maria may offer properly structured experiences and activities, combining cycling tourism with other products, such as hiking trails, or even with cultural activities, through the itineraries of the Thematic Routes in whaling, vineyards and volcanoes."

The infrastructures of this cycling network on the island of Santa Maria Island have already been completed, creating the opportunity for local businesses to start leveraging this investment already this summer season.