The mayor of Porto Santo, in the archipelago of Madeira, said today that the future of tourism on the island will be based on sustainability and will pay attention to the “uniqueness” of the territory.

“The tourism project for the future of the island of Porto Santo is very much based on this path. Of course, a path of sustainability. Because we’re talking about a territory that won’t grow, that is finite and has to be treated with great care and affection,” said Nuno Batista.

He continued: “[By] valuing ourselves, above all, for the uniqueness that we have on our island, because today, those looking for a tourist destination are looking for it to live a different experience, something new.”

“And that’s what we have to show, but also, as islanders that we are, the time has come to realize our complementarity and the space we have to occupy not only in our regions, but also in our country,” he said.

The mayor of Porto Santo was speaking today in the town of Velas, on the island of São Jorge, in the Azores, at the start of the first Atlantic Tourism Days (JAT), held as part of the twinning of the municipalities of Velas (Azores), Sal (Cape Verde) and Porto Santo (Madeira).

In his speech, he also said that tourism on the island of Porto Santo has been “an enormous pleasure” and is “challenging” because the island of Madeira is the region in the country “where tourism has been working for the longest time and in the best way”.

“We want to build our path, debating extremely important issues such as mobility, environmental sustainability, and others that are common to all of us, but passing on the message (…) that the people and the territory in which we operate will always be above all else,” he said.

During the proceedings, which took place in the Velas Municipal Auditorium, Nuno Batista admitted that the JATs “could be a fundamental contribution” for all the municipalities that have twinning arrangements.

“It’s important to share friendship, but (…) to be able to share all the experiences that we live and have in each of our regions and that this allows us to make a qualitative leap much faster, because, of course, as in everything, together we will always be stronger,” he declared.

In the town of Velas, in São Jorge, Azores, today saw the start of the first Atlantic Tourism Days, held by the council as part of its twinning agreement with the municipalities of Sal (Cape Verde) and Porto Santo (Madeira).

The three municipalities held a meeting in that town in 2022 to commemorate 30 years of twinning, and on that occasion, it was decided to hold the days on a rotating basis.

In 2024, they will be held on the island of Sal, and in 2025, on the island of Porto Santo.

The days, with around 120 participants, run until Sunday and include, among other things, debates on “Tourist Offer/Accommodation,” “Tourist Activities and their Environmental and Economic Sustainability,” and “Promotion (Marketing) and Mobility/Transport.”
There will also be ‘fam trips’ (familiarization trips) to various tourist spots on the island of São Jorge and cultural shows with musical groups from the three municipalities involved.

PBBI-Fresno State is home to the Madeira Diaspora Initiative to register stories from Madeira in California and to feature stories from Madeira in NOVIDADES to reach second, third, and fourth generations in California and the West Coast, including the Hawaiian islands who have roots in the magnificent Autonomous Region.