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With no active cases of the deadly coronavirus disease for several days, Azores has been declared COVID-19 free and is all set to restart tourist operations. The Portuguese destination has been added to a safe list prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office alongside Madeira and Porto Santo. The Azores stand as a perfect destination for travellers who prefer nature experiences and activities such as hiking, whale watching, local cuisine and valuing traditions.
Luís Capdeville Botelho, Executive Director, Azores Tourism Board said in a press statement that the Azores Islands are delighted to have been recognised as the safest place to travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic by the European Best Destination Organisation. He confirmed that with no active cases, the island can proudly declare itself COVID-19 free. He shared that irrespective of where people live, what language they speak and what ideologies they believe in, the pandemic has put life into perspective for every individual.
He mentioned that it taught human beings that nothing can be taken for granted and that the entire human race had to be paused in order to come through the dark times. He said that authorities believe that people will cherish the safety of the Azores Islands from now on and mentioned that it has always been a destination that took pride on its commitment to welcoming visitors with open arms and have always prioritised their wellbeing.
He added that the tourism sector is immensely proud of the swift action taken by the Portuguese government, tourism industry and local establishments on the islands to ensure that it can return to a state of normality, with the upmost safety measures in place to maintain the current condition. He shared that the safety measures have been designed to keep every single person who visits the island safe and well, with minimal impact to their experience and will continue to remain in place. He also appreciated everyone for their patience and cooperation to sit back, pause and reflect on the travels they could experience after the height of the pandemic and said that Azores is excited to welcome back visitors once again.
