Strategic pillars.
The Madeira Tourism Strategy 2022-2027 brings together a set of 6 Strategic Pillars for the development of the Region.
Nature, Active & Sport Tourism
Mountains, levadas and footpaths, viewpoints, gardens and forests, circuits and walking routes, sports and land activities and bird watching.

Health and Wellness
Healthy and alternative food, yoga, thalassotherapy, psamotherapy, meditation, spiritual retreats, treatments and spa, places that provide physical and mental well-being.

Sea and Nautical Tourism
Beaches and natural pools, nautical sports and activities, whale watching, cruise tourism

Lifestyle & New Trends
Tourism and signature/author gastromic experiences, nightlife, trendy places, places capable of attracting digital nomads and professionals to work remotely

Consciousness & Sustainability
Social and environmental volunteer tourism, initiatives that promote the circular economy and the diminution of consumption, programs to boost local economy.

Cultural Heritage, Gastronomy & Wine
Material and intangible cultural heritage, attractions and themed routes, distinctive gastronomy, wine tourism

The 6 guiding drivers of the Strategy.
1.
Strengthen the destination´s management, improving knowledge and monitoring the performance of the Tourism sector.
2.
Bet on diversity, differentiation and organization of the tourist offer.
3.
Invest in increasing the Destination’s visibility.
4.
Attract, qualify and value Human Resources in the tourism sector.
5.
Stimulate Investment in the tourism sector.
6.
Ensure the sustainability of the destination (cultural, environmental, economic, and social).
Who certifies the destination?
EarthCheck
EarthCheck is the entity responsible for the certification process of Madeira as a sustainable tourist destination.
Find out moreEarthCheck is one of three entities accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, being a world leader in scientific benchmarking and certification for the tourism and travel industry. The regulation adopted by EarthCheck stipulates an evolutionary certification process that imposes the progressive achievement of four levels (silver, gold, platinum, and master), compelling each destination to demonstrate adequate compliance with the criteria evaluated, consistently throughout time.
The Process
Madeira has continuously invested in the sustainability of the territory, preserving and valuing it’s endogenous resources.
The development of Madeira Destination is aligned with the 10 articles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism of the World Tourism Organization and with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN, which contribute to the maximization of the benefits of tourism and minimize potential impacts.
Global Code of EthicsSustainable Development GoalsLearn more about the processPhase I: Benchmarking
Phase II: Certification
Who manages the process?
The Management Structure of the Madeira Certification Process (DMO)is the entity nominated by the Government of Madeira (Regional Government Council Resolution no. 51/2022, dated January 31, 2022), with competencies to plan, organize, implement, manage and supervise Madeira’s certification process as a Sustainable Tourism Destination, according to EarthCheck’s normative standard, on a collaborative basis.
These are the main documents of the process:
- Guiding document of the destination’s intentions regarding sustainability, presenting the purpose and associated commitments.
- Report that identifies the potential level of risk situations, whether planned, accidental or emergency, natural or anthropic, related within the expertise of action of Madeira Destination.
- Set of commitments and actions for sustainability, articulated with the various regional secretariats of the Government of Madeira, Municipalities, and stakeholders of the destination.
