While celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Laurissilva as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Eduardo Jesus, the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Environment, and Culture, announced that from the 1st of January, it will be mandatory to book a time slot to visit Madeira’s tourist routes, including the Laurissilva forest and other natural attractions.
The minister explained that the measure, applicable to both tour operators and individuals, will enable the management of people visiting popular tourism sites, as well as controlling traffic and alleviating pressure on extremely popular places. Even if the maximum daily load has never been exceeded, as revealed by a study developed in collaboration with the University of Madeira. “It is a collective responsibility to protect our natural heritage and understand the constraints that we need to work within.”
The management of the slots will be done through the SIMplifica platform, where each time slot will have a limit of visitors. If a slot is full, you will need to choose another time, earlier or later. Eduardo Jesus compared the system to a visit to a museum, in which the time of entry is chosen to avoid crowds.
“This is a visible practice in several territories around the world. It is a change in habit here in Madeira, not only for residents, who continue to have the freedom to enjoy the mountains without paying for the privilege.”
As for how tourists will get to know the slots, the secretary explained that organised tour operators and entry points will guide visitors, while residents will have their own indications. The IFCN will also provide an app and website renewal to inform about available schedules and manage the flow of people.
The measure aims to reconcile tourist enjoyment and environmental preservation, avoiding overloads on the routes and ensuring a safer and more organised experience for everyone.
The SIMplifica platform is easy to use.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM Archive
