Around 90 organisations unite for sustainability

The Autonomous Region of Madeira is taking a significant step towards certification as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, bringing together around 90 public, private and voluntary sector organisations in an unprecedented effort at institutional cooperation. This process is led by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Culture, with the support of the Institute for Tourism Planning and Development (IPDT) and audits by the international certifier EarthCheck, recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).

The model adopted is based on a Sustainability Management Structure (DMO), which comprises advisory councils, internal working groups and four regional ‘Green Teams’, bringing together representatives from various Regional Directorates, associations, companies and civil society organisations. This collaborative network is involved in defining, implementing and monitoring the 2022–2030 Action Plan, which includes around 300 concrete actions in the environmental, social, cultural and economic spheres.

The assessment of Madeira involves 29 quantitative indicators and 361 qualitative criteria, covering energy, emissions, water, waste, biodiversity and socio-economic impact. Eduardo Jesus, Regional Secretary, emphasises that the success of the sustainable destination depends on maintaining this active cooperation network, stressing that sustainability is not achieved by decree alone, but through collective commitment and the participation of all partners involved.