Focus on Quality Tourism, Not Luxury
Madeira’s president Miguel Albuquerque, has again emphasized the importance of raising the quality of tourism services on the island. Speaking at an event in Funchal, he argued that improving the public image of Madeira's urban and commercial areas is a necessary step to stay competitive with other high-level tourism destinations.
He believes that these visual and functional improvements are part of a wider effort to align Madeira’s tourism with current global standards - without losing the region’s identity. When asked whether this strategy signals a shift toward luxury tourism, Albuquerque firmly said:
It's not luxury tourism, it's quality tourism. In fact, Madeira has never had anything else.
He added that Madeira is already competing with other well-established destinations, and therefore must follow international trends while preserving local character.
Return of Helicopter Travel Is Facing Delays
Albuquerque also commented on the stalled return of helicopter tourism to Madeira. He recalled that helicopter services had operated successfully in the past and argued for their reintroduction as a way to meet the needs of higher-spending visitors, particularly those interested in activities like golf.
You already had the helicopter here. Now it's crucial to have these helicopters back. There's a bureaucratic problem there; I don't know what's going on. There are interested companies, and we want to open a tender, but we have to move forward with this.
Miguel Albuquerque, JM-Madeira
He underlined that helicopters could provide faster travel between locations such as the Santo da Serra golf course and the future course planned for Ponta do Pargo. According to Albuquerque, this kind of infrastructure would strengthen the island's offer for a segment of tourists who seek comfort, speed, and convenience.
Source: JM-Madeira
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