Madeira News Blog

Following up on the previous post, I was very disappointed to get a message back earlier today from Santo da Serra Golf Club regarding our reader who had booked to come to see the golf next weekend when in fact it is taking place  as we speak (day 3 out of 4 tomorrow). Bear in mind this is not a small event, with €600,000 worth of prize money – first place gets €112,500 whilst even 70th goes home with €1229 – this should be attracting attention world-wide!!!

The golf club replied saying “We are sorry to hear that (wrong dates published) but as it is not our responsibility unfortunately we can’t give any compensation” Actually I didn’t suggest this – I just mentioned that perhaps they could donate a free round of golf.

With this in mind I thought I would have a look at what reputable sites that should be promoting Madeira are saying about the event tonight. This is typical (no names!) but the source of the misinformation has to be the same…

And finally from Santo da Serra Golf’s own web site (although they have changed the date at the top of the same page):

What a shambles – surely tourism is struggling badly enough at the moment without somebody getting things so wrong – what a waste!! Very little TV coverage as well due to there being a major in the States at exactly the same time – the highest world-ranked entrant in the Madeira Open was No 192 with just four players ranked in the 200’s

The Madeira Islands Open – Portugal returns to Santo da Serra Golf this season for the first time since 2008 tomorrow (10 May 2012 to 13 May 2012)

In the intervening three years, Porto Santo Golfe on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo hosted the tournament, which was won last year by Northern Irishman Michael Hoey.

Santo da Serra, designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr in 1991, was the venue for the Madeira Islands Open for 12 seasons, from 1997 to 2008, having taken over from Campo de Golfe de Madeira, which hosted the first four editions beginning in 1993.

I could find no entry pricing, and contacted the club Pro, who quickly replied “Entry is Free all visitors are welcome and we have a free shuttle service from Funchal”

The Diario today announces that Monarch Airlines is to fly to Funchal 3 times a week from Gatwick and twice from Birmingham commencing on the 15th of October.

In an unusual step the tariff has already been announced and the airline claims that bookings can be made immediately. “The round-trip flights cost 136 euros, taxes included, while a single trip is priced from 61.50 euros. To celebrate the new routes from Monarch we will offer a discount of 12 euros on booking flights back and forth," the company states.

This is seriously good news – if it turns out to be true – it might reverse the recent trend in rising prices. Hopefully easyJet will adjust their accelerating charges to compete. Currently a one week return with easyJet on the 16th of October is £187.00 before you add the infamous extras (I haven’t investigated Monarch’s extras)

According to a spokesman the company feels it is "is perfectly positioned to penetrate the market of leisure Madeira. Our strategy for the company is now focused firmly on regular operations and it is with great pleasure that we add a new route from Madeira to our already extensive network of leisure destinations across Europe"

The UK in 2011 represented about 20% of traffic from the airport of Madeira, the second biggest market for passengers. The entrance of the British airline to the region “represents an additional supply of 90,480 seats per year” apparently

It is an event that satisfies ANAM, the company that manages the airports Madeira and Porto Santo, because the operation coincides with the beginning IATA winter, "thus contributing to reversing the trend of increased seasonality that has been recorded in this period," says a source.

The same source confirms that the entry of the Monarch at Madeira airport is the result of an intense negotiating effort, due to the strategy that has developed in order to "consolidate the UK market and offer passengers a differentiated offering."

A few Monarch “extras” are mentioned – you can ensure that families and groups to stay together through the payment of a fee of 6 euros per outbound flight, and for customers who want additional comfort seats are available with six inches of extra legroom from 12 euros.