Transformation of Historic Center Increases Overnight Stays to Over 250,000 in 2023
Between 2018 and 2022, overnight stays in Câmara de Lobos grew by 64%, according to municipal reports. Accommodation capacity also rose by 32%, reaching 1,086 beds and 250,000 overnight stays in 2023. The local government credits this growth to a strategy that revitalized the city’s historic center, which previously lacked hotels, turning it into an attractive destination for both visitors and investors.
New Hotels Generate Jobs and Support Local Businesses in Historic Area
Two major hotels opened in recent years, reinforcing the town’s tourism infrastructure. The Pestana Churchill Bay opened in 2019 with 57 rooms. In 2021, the Pestana Fisherman Village launched with 42 rooms, integrated into the historic district. Local officials noted that placing restaurants outside hotels has strengthened neighborhood commerce and improved pedestrian life in the town center.
Tourist Tax Introduced in 2025 Aims to Maintain Public Spaces and Promote the Destination
In 2024, the municipality approved a regulation for a Tourist Tax on overnight stays, applied starting in 2025. Revenues from this tax are allocated for public space maintenance, landscape improvements, and destination promotion. Mayor Sónia Pereira stated.
Source: Diário de Notícias Madeira
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