In view of the economic and social development seen in the past few years, reflected in the amount of construction of infrastructures and in the growth in the flow of tourism; and in order to consolidate the high quality brand image that the destination profits from, it was felt that it has become necessary to create new guidance strategies for the development of the tourist sector of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

The approved Tourist Management Plan (TMP) defines the tourism development strategy in the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the territorial model to be adopted, providing guidance for public and private investment, in the aim of guaranteeing a balanced territorial distribution of tourist accommodation and equipment, as well as better use and increased value of human, cultural and natural resources.

TMP also defines the characteristics of tourist undertakings to which the existing landscape and historical situation lends itself in the different zones of the Region.

This plan, which is the result of the reflection of different sectors of regional society, also establishes limits and guides growth trends in accommodation, as well as supervising the figures for the distribution of accommodation over the territory.

Specifying only one part of the contents of this new guidance instrument, until the year 2012 and for the island of Madeira, the maximum tourist accommodation figure is limited to 35.000 beds, while for the island of Porto Santo, a figure of 4.000 beds has been stipulated.

Tourism land use plan

The Tourism Land Use Plan (POT), to be approved this year, will serve as an instrument for Regional policy and enable the management of growth in tourist activity up to the year 2012.

The goal of this plan is to achieve sustainable growth in tourism, in connection with the overall development of the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the preservation of the traditional distinctiveness and quality of Madeira as a tourist destination.

The POT concentrates on the following points:

• Control of the rate of growth in the offer of accommodation;


• Reduction of the territorial concentration of the accommodation offer;


• Containment and improvement of the hotels in Funchal and Canico;


• Development of the complementary offer (that which is not related to accommodation);