Funchal, Portugal, Aug. 23, 2024 (Lusa) - Madeira's regional secretary for the economy, tourism and culture, Eduardo Jesus, said on Friday that the fire on the island is not affecting tourist activity, except for entertainment and the use of footpaths and trails, which have been restricted.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Eduardo Jesus said that his office has been monitoring the whole situation and has contacted the vast majority of accommodation on Madeira, with only one subsector being affected, which has to do with tourist entertainment.
‘We've had replies from all the contacts that there is no trend towards cancellations due to the fires. What has happened is a much higher frequency of enquiries. People are asking many more questions before they come, especially those who book directly. [...] some people have rescheduled for other dates,’ he said.
The rural fire on the island of Madeira broke out on 14 August in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, progressively spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and, through Pico Ruivo, Santana.
According to the regional secretary for the economy, tourism and culture, people ask if Madeira can receive them if the air is breathable, if the affected areas are close to the accommodation, if services are working and if the sector is responding.
‘We have responded with what is reality. The sector has not reduced its capacity at all. We have the same capacity and strength as before. Accommodation is not suffering any cancellations due to the fires, and the entire economic activity of travel agencies [...] has not registered any trend [of cancellations] either,’ he said.
According to Eduardo Jesus, one subsector is being most affected, and that has to do with tourist entertainment, the use of footpaths and trails, some of which have been fenced off or conditioned access.
‘Some have conditioned access because the road networks are being assessed and cleaned and prepared for normal circulation, and today we have news of the opening of 10 conditioned routes, making a total of 24 walking routes available to the population at the moment,’ he said.
Eduardo Jesus also said that, due to the situation, alternatives had to be found regarding tourist entertainment.
‘You have to find alternatives. Fortunately, Madeira has them. If it's not possible in the central mountain range, it's possible in Caniçal. If it's not possible in the Serra de Água area, it's possible further down in Paul, to the west by the sea. This is the gymnastics we're doing,’ he said.
He also emphasised that a great deal of work has been done to combat the news reports that link strong winds at the airport with the fire, which are not true.
‘We went after international news and clarified these media reports. From the first day of the fires, the promotion association started a wave of digital information to publicise the offer that wasn't affected and what's happening in Madeira. We had to direct this communication to ‘influencers’. We used the diplomatic network through consulates and embassies to clarify the countries of origin. The effort has been more to dismantle news that isn't true than to manage the local impact of the fire,’ he said.
The European Forest Fire Information System data points to more than 5,002 hectares of burnt area.
Since the start of the fire, the authorities have instructed nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and have made public reception facilities available. Still, many residents have returned, except those in Fajã das Galinhas, in Câmara de Lobos.
The wind and high temperatures have hampered the fight against the flames, but there are no reports of homes or essential infrastructure being destroyed.
DD/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
