Madeira strengthens sustainable management of high-pressure tourism areas

Tourism in Madeira is preparing for 2026 with a clear focus on managing areas subject to the greatest pressure and reducing conflicts between tourism activity, environmental protection and residents’ quality of life.

Following a period of strong growth, the destination is entering a consolidation phase in which the priority is no longer solely to increase visitor numbers, but rather to balance flows, safeguard sensitive areas and reinforce the sustainability of the model. The strategy is based on regulating access to high-demand natural sites, monitoring carrying capacity and redistributing visitors more evenly across the territory.

Measures already implemented include daily visitor caps in environmentally fragile locations, a review of access fees, strengthened enforcement and greater emphasis on awareness-raising to encourage responsible behaviour. The objective is to preserve natural and cultural heritage, enhance the visitor experience and reduce adverse impacts on local communities.

This new paradigm tests the destination’s ability to reconcile tourism competitiveness with environmental conservation, positioning sustainability as a structural pillar of governance and of Madeira’s international market positioning.

Find out more here.