The Commercial and Industrial Association of Funchal (ACIF-CCIM) today challenged the charge of three euros on seven classified pedestrian routes in Madeira, in force since Monday, and considered the possibility of moving forward with precautionary measures.
“We do not want to reach a situation where we have to introduce a precautionary measure so that what is set out in this regulation does not apply to economic operators from January [2025] onwards”, said the president of the association, Jorge Veiga França, stating that the Regional Government (PSD) did not respect what had been agreed in a previous meeting.
The person in charge was speaking to journalists after a plenary meeting with the Travel Agencies, Rent-a-Car and Tourist Entertainment sections, which took place at the headquarters of ACIF – Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madeira, in Funchal.
Jorge Veiga França explained that on April 16, a meeting took place between the association and the regional secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Rafaela Fernandes, who oversees the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation of Madeira, with the position of that the ordinance on charging for access to hiking routes would only come into force from January 1, 2025.
According to the representative, it was also decided that a protocol would be drawn up determining that individual tourists would pay the fee of three euros in seven classified sections from January onwards, with economic operators being exempt until the end of that year, to start paying only from January 2026.
“It was also agreed that not only would this protocol be signed, according to which economic operators would have exemption throughout the year 2025, but from now until the end of this year we [ACIF-CCIM] committed to studying an alternative to the model that was applied now”, he explained.
The president of ACIF-CCIM insists on the creation of a single tourist tax, to avoid the “birth of fees and taxes” and considering that, “in a land as small as Madeira, a person does not come to stay alone in the place”.
“There are a series of situations that do not correspond to what was agreed [with the guardianship] and, given the importance of this sector, I don’t see what the problem is in listening to economic operators, those on the ground, who know what is happening and that can help to better organize what has been happening”, he warned.
On Monday, the Institute of Forestry and Nature Conservation began charging a fee of three euros to non-residents on seven classified walking routes, a measure that will cover all recommended trails from January 1, 2025, as indicated by the regional secretary.
On the occasion, Rafaela Fernandes explained that the designated waste fee is charged to tourists over 12 years of age and does not apply to residents, nor to economic operators who have a protocol signed with the Forestry Institute until the end of the year.
However, according to ACIF-CCIM, there are, for now, only two protocols with operators, for visits to the Cabo Girão viewpoint and the Ponta de São Lourenço path.
On Monday, the Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment explained that from January 2025 only residents are exempt from paying the fee, which will then be charged on the more than 30 routes classified under the management of the Institute of Forestry and Conservation of Nature.
For now, the list includes Pico do Areeiro, Pico Ruivo, Levada do Risco, Levada do Caldeirão Verde, Balcões, Levada do Rei and Ponta de São Lourenço. A fee of two euros was already charged for the route, now updated to three euros.
Rafaela Fernandes said that the resources will be used to clean and maintain the routes and considered that the measure is well accepted by tourists. Fines of up to 50 euros will be imposed on those who do not pay.