The President of Madeira recently visited Porto Santo and the new Vila Baleira Urban Park, located in the Fontinha. On visiting the new site, the President categorically stated that the area is eco-friendly and sustainable. Moreover, he made it clear that campsites do not constitute a tourism “objective” for Porto Santo.
Further outlining his derision of the campsite, Miguel Albuquerque added:
“The campsite was surplus to requirement and what Porto Santo needs is to have good high-priced hotels and no campsites. Camping and Porto Santo are not compatible! I am a defender of quality tourism, and as such the new area will have a concession boathouse bar/cafeteria, washroom facilities, picnic/leisure areas, a sand playground, or a beach volleyball court.
“It is a park for the enjoyment of the population, with a set of leisure infrastructures, that will have a new beach access and better parking facilities.
“The park is magnificent, respects the ecosystem of Porto Santo, and is well designed in terms of sustainability, namely rainwater conservation and use. This is a great opportunity, and once again, this investment is for the present, the future, and the urbanisation and growth of the city.”
“We will even have vineyards planted here in the park, and we will make an investment, later, to have automatic watering throughout the space,” which will be concessioned to a private company with a view to producing Port Santo wine.
In the opinion of the President of the Regional Government, the park is perfectly framed with the landscape of Porto Santo. Financially the project has cost the Regional Government approximately €695,000.
The new facilities are open: from October to May, from 08h00 to 00h00, and from June to September, from 07h30 to 02h00.
Again, what is demonstrated here is that there are no facilities for those living on low incomes to holiday in Porto Santo. In the past, the campsite provided a lifeline to those who were unable to afford expensive hotel accommodation.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
