About 23,000 people were given access to Fogo Lagoon on Sao Miguel Island using a shuttle system from June 15 to July 31 this year, the Azores leader said on Friday.
Of the total 22,963 people who travelled to the natural monument located in the municipality of Ribeira Grande on this particular bus, 21,944 tickets were sold to non-residents.
“In 30 days, 14,341 tickets have been sold and another 7,633 reserved. Residents have purchased 358 tickets, according to information provided by Atlântico Energy, the company that provides the service,” the press release said.
The regional government recalls that the bus service to visit Lagoa do Fogo, free for residents and which “aims to regulate the movement of vehicles in order to improve the quality of the experience and guarantee respect for nature”, began in 2023, when 50,836 people made the journey from June 15 to September 30.
Meanwhile, the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure has created an additional 32 parking spaces in a new park located next to Caldeira Velha.
The regional guardianship secretary, quoted in the press release, said that “by the end of the operation the figures are expected to be much higher than those recorded last year.”
According to Berta Cabral, this year’s data “already demonstrates that this measure is indeed successful and is the most appropriate solution for organizing tourist flows and regulating visits to one of the most iconic attractions of the Azores.”
As in 2023, the days of the week with the highest demand are Saturday, Monday and Sunday.
The hop-on hop-off service, which runs until September 30, includes routes with departure and arrival points in Caldeira Velha, Ribeira Grande and Casa da Água in Lagoa.
During the service, traffic on the roads is limited: the exception is tourist and entertainment companies, travel agencies, taxis and city residents.
“As we saw in 2023 and is already starting to happen this year, there has been a huge reduction in car traffic on the roads and even in the use of parking at the viewpoints, and at the same time we have created much better conditions for enjoying the entire space and a much more peaceful experience connected to nature,” says Berta Cabral.
According to a government official, the decision “will help maintain tourism as a driving force for the regional economy while maintaining an adequate balance in protecting natural heritage.”
“This measure contributes to achieving one of our main objectives: reducing the environmental burden on a protected area and one of the most visited places on the island of São Miguel,” he emphasizes.
Covering an area of approximately 14 kilometers, the shuttle passes through six tourist attractions and operates from 9:00 to 19:00 every day of the week, including holidays.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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