Madeira

The Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira is the political entity from the Madeira archipelago consists ( with the main island of Madeira), the Deserted Islands and the Selvagens.

  • 5.1 Tourism

Geography

The archipelago consists of the main island of Madeira, and the smaller island of Porto Santo. South-east lie the Deserted Islands ( Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio ). Halfway to the Canary Islands are the Selvagens.

Population

Inhabited only the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo.

History

Policy

1976 Madeira Região Autónoma da Madeira became, with its own government and parliament. It belongs as part of Portugal to the European Union. In the first free elections resulted in a majority for the conservative Christian Social Democratic Party PSD. Since 1978, the Catholic newspaper editor Alberto João Jardim from the PSD president of the regional government; with a short break in 2007 when he resigned in protest against the new law on regional finances, which provided for reductions in financial aid from the state budget of his office.

Alberto João Jardim is politically in Portugal under keen observation and also are allegations of corruption against him on the agenda because the actual debt was Madeira for years not specified correctly in the amount of 6.3 billion euros. This resulted in a net loss of 1.1 billion euros, which appeared in September 2011. Jardim was accused under him since 2008 were not declared debts and bills have not been recorded. Even in 2009 Jardim had refused to make saving measures and to include no more new debt. Repeatedly expressed Jardim also threats with independence of the island and a withdrawal from the European Union.

Administrative divisions

The autonomous region is divided into eleven counties ( municipios ).

Economy

Until the 1970s Madeira was one of the poorest regions in Europe. Madeira's GDP per capita was in 1974 only 40 % of the average Portuguese GDP. Over the past 30 years, Madeira has caught up economically enormously. Average economic growth in the last ten years was 5 %. The per capita GDP is now 29 % higher than the average Portuguese and is about 80 % of the EU -15 (2003) and 90.4% of the EU-25 ( 2005). The main source of income is tourism. Currently, the regional government plans to increase to 39,000 the number of hotel beds from 29,000. Especially the areas on the north coast and the interior should be encouraged, while growth is expected to be limited in Funchal. The " Madeira International Business Center" (IBC ) is the second pillar of the Madeiran economy. With tax breaks here several thousand companies were settled, which created 3000 direct jobs. The IBC accounts for 21 % of the Madeiran gross domestic product. Among other things, telecommunications and Internet companies have settled, the Madeira appreciate because of its low compared to other European VAT rates. In 2002, settled here, for example, the French Internet provider Wanadoo. Madeira is also increasingly used by international companies for conferences. In addition, Madeira is the seat of numerous shipping companies and since 1988 the seat of the University of Madeira.

The Madeiran economy is currently in a process of transformation. The tourism sector is trying increasingly active holiday ( 45-65 years old ) to attract them to change his reputation as a pensioner 's paradise. Therefore, it is also trying to attract low cost airlines. The increase of the Portuguese VAT rate from 13% to 15 % have prevented some potential investors such as Yahoo, AOL and Apple investments in Madeira. While the Madeiran regional government attempts to negotiate an exemption for Madeira, the Madeiran company strengthen its profile in the service area to withstand the competition. Madeira is in direct competition with Luxembourg and Cyprus, which also provide value-added tax rates of 15%.

Tourism

UK visitors dominate among the guests, especially in Funchal and Câmara de Lobos where Churchill painted. He rose in 1891 opened from Luxury Hotel Reid's Palace, on the island, the most famous hotel is one of the Leading Hotels of the World and wide.

For British Madeira is a traditional holiday destination. One meets in Madeira but also tourists from all over Europe - but overall not too high in number and then primarily east of the capital (Funchal ), in Canico. The ratio of British to the German visitors has shifted. In the last three years, the number of German tourists has increased significantly. At three to four days of the week from Germany Funchal is served (as of 2007).

Madeira is known as a hiker's paradise, with spring-like until summer, pleasant temperatures all year round. Along the Levada (small water channels, especially in the northern part of the island) paths for maintenance and care have been created and are today well maintained as hiking trails and provide terrific insights and perspectives into the beauty of the island 300 years ago by Moorish slaves. Core area is the area between Porto da Cruz and Santana in the north ( World Heritage Site). Also noteworthy is the mountain trail between the third highest peak Pico do Arieiro and the highest mountain Pico Ruivo. This hike should begin early in the morning - the mountains lie on the south often in clouds.

In Madeira there is little beaches. However, protected bays were built in recent years. These are either fixed natural rocky bays (for example, Lido Galomar in Canico ), natural rock swimming pool as in Porto Moniz, or small artificial sandy beaches ( Calheta ). In Canico there for 25 years an underwater national park, where you can dive.

The neighboring island of Porto Santo (two to three hours by ferry or 20 minutes flight ), however, offers a nine- kilometer-long sandy beach, but is scenic not nearly as interesting ( erosion caused by deforestation by the ancient mariners ).

Overall, visited in 2005, about one million tourists, the island, with approximately 200,000 arrived by cruise ships and therefore stayed only briefly.

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