At a meeting this morning, the 'Juntos pelo Povo' (JPP) stressed the need to guarantee measures capable of mitigating the destructive impact of the pandemic on the island's economy. They went on to say that "since the region cannot control or change the macro measures that are being followed, it can, however, consider a mitigation scheme aimed at recovering and maintaining possible tourist market dynamics. It is imperative that extraordinary measures are adopted to complement those in force at the airport."
Posts published in “Travel”
In a press statement sent to local newspaper, JM-Madeira last night, the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Culture, Eduardo Jesus, said that the restrictions imposed by Portugal on all connections with the United Kingdom will have a strong impact on Madeira, as approximately 21,000 tourists were expected to arrive for the Christmas and End of Year festivities.
The impact of restrictions imposed by Portugal on connections with the United Kingdom is already being felt in the region, as EasyJet, TUI Airways and Jet2 flights from London, Bristol and the East Midlands to Madeira have been cancelled.
When questioned about the Covid outbreak at the Hospital dos Marmeleiros, in Funchal, Miguel Albuquerque, the President of Madeira, assured reporters and citizens that the 'transmission chain has been identified' and that the situation is under control.
The Regional Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Susana Prada, confirmed today that 1.3 million, of the nine million that has been reserved for the islands natural resources, will be reserved for the upkeep of walking routes.
Miguel Iglésias, from the parliamentary branch of the PS-Madeira, recently questioned the Regional Secretary of Health and Civil Protection concerning the rumour as to whether the transmission of Covid has passed from 'local' transmission to 'community'' transmission, and if so, what additional measures will be introduced.
In a statement, the São Vicente City Council has confirmed that the Christmas Market which is due to be held on the 19th and 20th of December, from 10 am to 8 pm will take place as scheduled.
The Ribeira Brava City Council plans to distribute more than 3,150 masks to all students who attend schools within the municipality as part of their strategy to combat Covid transmissions in local schools.
Today the first Whizz Air flight from Luton, England received a warm Madeira welcome as it taxied in on its maiden flight. The company, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, already flies to Lisbon, Porto and Faro, and has now expanded its Portuguese operations to Madeira.
According to data from the 'Idealista' portal, at the end of October there were 166 hotels for sale in Portugal, 4% more than in March (160), when the state of national emergency was declared. As predicted the number of hotels now for sale in Madeira, has increased by 100%: five establishments in March and ten in October.
The President of the Regional Government has confirmed that despite the increasing number of cases of Covid-19 he will not erect a security barrier around Machico, arguing that this measure could only be justified "if there was a lack of control and community transmission." Even so, he said the situation calls for scrupulous compliance with the rules and reaffirmed that strict inspections will be carried out on all bars and restaurants.
Dozens of TAP workers gathered today at the company's facilities in Lisbon to show their discontent with a restructuring plan that "makes blind cuts" and warn that the company will not be able to take advantage of the economic recovery.
According to an Associação de Hotelaria de Portugal (AHP) flash survey entitled "Closures in Hospitality 2020/2021," the results of which were presented today at an online press conference by the executive chairman of AHP, Cristina Siza Vieira, almost 50% of hotels will close by the end of the year while several hotel chains have confirmed that they will have to close 56% of their establishments by the end of 2020.