Madeira To Introduce A Tourist Fee On Some Popular Hiking Trails
Tourist fee to hike 30 popular routes in Madeira
To promote sustainable tourism in Madeira, tourist fees to hike popular routes on the island will fund conservation efforts. Currently, the fee applies to seven of the most trafficked routes. However, the surcharge will be expanded from January 2025, to cover all recommended trails in the Portuguese archipelago.
According to Rafaela Fernandes, the regional secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, the new tourist fee is necessary to protect the island’s natural landscapes, while managing the increasing influx of tourists.
About the tourist fees to hike the island’s trails
Meanwhile, from January 2025, travelers will have to pay a tourist fee to hike more than 30 hiking routes under the management of the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (ICNF) in Madeira. Meanwhile, hikers who do not pay the fee can face fines of up to €50 ($53).
Tourists can pay the fee by using the regional government portal, Simplifica. Moreover, there are several on-site payment options available at ICNF stations located on many of the hiking trails.
How will the tourist fees be used on Madeira?
According to Fernandes, the move has so far been welcomed by tourists, who appreciate the importance of supporting conservation efforts and a move towards sustainability. Meanwhile, users of the hiking trails are personally responsible for any damage, material or human, that happens during their use.
Find out more about Madeira’s beautiful hiking trails here.