Madeira News Blog

TODAY’S PHOTO : Thanks to Vic … Air display at Funchal 501 celebrations ‘Asas of Portugal’, or ‘Wings’.

In the last few days Madeira Island Direct (our major sponsors) have decided to waive all subscriptions for the next year – any property owner will get free advertising on their main site LINK until September next year. Their intention is simply to get as many properties on board as possible and cement their No. 1 position for travellers to Madeira seeking their own accommodation. In the next week madeiraislanddirect.com should have its 10,000th unique visitor since its launch earlier this summer (from 82 different countries) – a lot of this down to the links with the blog – not to be outdone the blog itself, despite residing on the same site nowadays, boasts 9,000 unique visitors from a total of 106 counties. Don’t worry, I don’t know who anyone is, just what countries they come from. Still no one from Greenland though to complete the full set of continents. Anyone know anyone in Greenland please?

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(16th August). ‘Jardim Threatens To Create A Movement’. President Alberto João Jardim, who interrupted his holiday on Porto Santo to go to the festival at Monte, is insisting that the news of 0.3% growth (PIB / GDP) in the Portuguese economy is the data of ‘electioneers’. "This is not true, nothing increased, they are the numbers of electioneers, 0.3% is stagnation, it is a way of saving face" he said. "We live in a country where the official data doesn’t have any credibility, I don’t believe in the Bank of Portugal, I don’t believe in the National Institute of Statistics (INE), all of this has to be reviewed from the beginning" he added. I must admit I find it hard to believe too Uncle Bertie, but not for the same reasons as you. It won’t be long now before local unemployment numbers are published by the Madeira government, now that should be a tall story indeed, but nothing to do with electioneering of course.

(14th August). From the Jornal da Madeira. ‘Jardim says he does not give in to blackmail- Porto Santo – "I’m not putting up with the rogues of Tourism of Portugal". Alberto João Jardim said yesterday that he refuses to play party politics with the serious things, assuring that he will not give in to blackmail, by anyone. He made the statement in the Bar do Henrique on Porto Santo, when confronted on a matter about Nacional’s football match in Russia in the Europa League, and the governments lack of intention to use the match to promote Madeira in Russia, after the Secretary for State for Tourism has already said he was looking into the matter. In response, Jardim, who is on holiday in Porto Santo, was clear: ‘I do not play party politics with the serious things and I don’t put up with the roguish behaviour of national tourism. And with me, nobody does blackmail" he said. I don’t normally use political material from the Jornal, but that one tickled me, and I am glad to hear that Uncle Bertie is at long last taking his politics seriously.

(16th August). ‘Thomas Cook Distinguishes Raga’. The remodelled Raga Hotel in Lido, Funchal has received, for the second consecutive year, the Thomas Cook Mark of Excellence Award. The award is decided on the votes of customers of the tour operator. It was noted for the growth in its quality of service and the dedication of the workers. It’s actually the only hotel I have stayed in here, and that was nearly 6 years ago, well before the ‘restoration’ two years ago. It now has four stars, but I think back then it would have struggled to deserve one star it was so dingy and aged, but it was clean and cheap and cheerful, and the staff even back then were very good.

‘Funchal’ Back in 2010 – It is the ship that has the record number of appearances here : 766′. The cruise ship returns here in April 2010, after an absence of over 5 years. It was last here in October 2004, and by coincidence was also here in Madeira exactly 40 years ago to the day. Its long absence is due to lengthy duty in international waters, particularly around Australia. First launched in 1961, it was a steam ferry ship doing the routes between Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, but the increase in air traffic put paid to that and it was converted into a cruise ship in 1973. The old steam turbines were also removed, and new diesel engines installed.

(15th August). Yesterday’s main news headline : ‘Tourism Lose Revenue – The hotels of Madeira have the best occupation rate in Portugal, but the results get worse’. The tourists from Portugal soften the blow for the loss of foreign visitors, and Madeira as a result has the best room occupation rate in Portugal of 57.9%, as well as the longest average stay at 5.3 nights. The figures for June were supplied by the National Institute of Statistics. The hotels here had 14% more hotel rooms occupied by Portuguese in the first 6 months of 2009, compared with the same period in 2008, with that jumping up in June, with 34% more than in June 2008. The worst of the problems has come from the British market which has fallen 20%, after being the largest market in 2008.

(5th August). ‘PSD Delivers Lists For The Câmaras Of São Vicente And Porto Moniz – Jorge Romeira selects social matters and quality of life as his priorities’. The social democrats of Madeira yesterday gave in their candidates lists for the two regions, with Jorge Romeira for São Vicente and Valter Correia in Porto Moniz at the top to be presidents.

‘PSD-M Asks 54 to Zero To Thank Jardim – "Thank and repay" all that Jardim did for Madeira with absolute victory’. The achievement of one more historic result would make a great parting gift for Alberto João Jardim, by winning in all of Madeira’s 54 Freguesias (parishes), according to Rui Coelho of the social democrats. The party wants to achieve the result with humility and not send Madeira into euphoria. In the previous local elections the PSD-M won 50 of the 54 majorities, with just Gaula, Água de Pena, Achadas da Cruz and Prazeres bucking the trend.

In anticipation of the visit of president Jardim to the expansion zone in Ponta do Sol town, the PS-M socialist party had a large sarcastic poster made and displayed, that one couldn’t fail to see. It headlined "€42.5 million thrown overboard – what happened to the 80 jobs promised", with other highlights of the government flagship disaster project … Lugar de Baixo marina. That was in the Diário.

The ‘response’ was in the Jornal da Madeira : "The People Know What They Have To Do" – The president of Madeira referred to the embargos placed on works’. President Jardim yesterday pointed the finger at those who suspend works, accusing them of preventing development and the creation of jobs. At the inauguration of the road in Ponta do Sol and other new infrastructures, Alberto João Jardim mentioned the project in the area of Lugar de Baixo. "As you know, there is a great work that someone has stopped because of an embargo", continuing "the people know who embargoed that work", and "who caused that years ago …  not creating the jobs that should have been created, and the lack of economic activity that should already exist. "The people know who did it, and therefore, the people also know what they have to do" said the president. By this time I was feeling a little unwell, so I set the Jornal on fire and threw it off the balcony (metaphorically speaking of course). Uncle Bertie passing the buck is of course not a novel phenomenon for most of us, but in this case his arrogance is breathcurdling. Rumour has it that it was him who commanded the building of marina in the somewhat rougher seas of Lugar de Baixo, when it was all set to safely go in the more sheltered waters of Ribeira Brava. On another subject, where is António Lobo, the ex-president of Ponta do Sol these days?

Enough of politics …

‘Port Taxes Could Rise After Completion Of The New ‘Port Structures’ – Conceição Estudante believes that services and costs should be covered’. The Government may consider an increase in port fees charged in the port of Funchal after the completion of the works. The issue was raised by the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport yesterday morning during a visit to the works in the port of Funchal. She said that the prices update will reflect economic developments, in order not to jeopardize the level of use by making the port too expensive. She added that the current rates in the port of Funchal are among the lowest on the Atlantic circuit. The new infrastructure is costing €12.8 million, and should be completed in December.

’8 Visits In August – Pacific Dream, Aurora, Costa Europa And Black Prince Are Expected’. Eight cruise ship visits are expected this month, in line with previous years, but 4 of those are from ‘Pacific Dream’.

(4th August). This is another one from the dark side : ‘More Hotels Are Likely To Close During The Winter – A meeting to be held between hotels this week could be conclusive’. With the Summer peak still flowing, some hotels on Porto Santo are already thinking ahead to the coming Winter. The strategy adopted last year is certain to last, with hotels that include the Praia Dourada and Pestana Dunas, again closing for 4 months to cope with the high running costs and strong seasonality of tourism. Rumours are that in addition the Hotel Vila Baleira and Torre Praia are considering the same solution. This would be a great challenge for a great marketing mind, to overcome the stupid notion that Winter is not beach time, when you have a beautiful island, a 9km golden beach, cheap top hotels, and great weather nearly all year around. Porto Santo is a ready made success story, that continues to fail, probably because it is just too small to survive alone and too under sourced to market itself. I stayed there at the beginning of February a couple of years ago, and the beach and sea were great, and it was plenty warm enough when the sun was out … but when it is not, there is little to do for the average holiday maker, so you do need to have plan for that eventuality.

(3rd August). This from the Norwich Evening News (UK) : ‘New Destination For Norwich Airport Passengers’. Holidaymakers can now enjoy the destination of Madeira from Norwich airport on two special dates next year. The flights will depart on Wednesday, April 14 2010 and April 21, 2010, courtesy of Newmarket Holidays, with following departures likely to be announced at a later date. Elliott Summers, managing director of Norwich Airport said: “Newmarket Holidays has long been offering our passengers a selection of destinations to the local population and we are very pleased they have picked up on the local demand for Madeira”.