FAIAL | Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change grants operation of Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre bar

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, signed, this Wednesday, the record of delivery of the facilities and equipment under the concession procedure for the operation of the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre bar on the island of Faial.

“This complex and lengthy process was successfully concluded. It involved the launch of three procedures, namely two public tenders launched in 2022, under which no proposals were submitted, and a direct award procedure inviting two entities that have shown interest in operating the bar, which led to this concession procedure,” he said.

According to the government official, “the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre, for its extraordinary natural and cultural heritage, reflects a remarkable period in the recent history of the Azores. It is a museum of reference and one of the most emblematic and sought-after interpretation centres in the Region, having received about 72 thousand visitors over the past two years.”

The Regional Secretary also stated that “the bar is of particular importance for this Interpretation Centre and its absence was noticed by visitors during the last high season.”

And he continued: ” this is why it is important that we are now able to fill this gap.”

The operation of the bar was granted to the company Cesar A. R. Silva, Unipessoal, Lda., for a period of three years, and “will, therefore, encourage the economic development of Faial, stimulating its business fabric, through local job creation.” The bar now under concession “will also increase the length of stay of visitors in this place of excellence and further contribute to increasing the quality of visits,” stressed the government official.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU