Candidatura Reserva da Biosfera - Santana Madeira Biosfera

homes (5.6 nights) in hotel establishments (5.2 nights) and on rural tourism facilities
(4.8 nights).
Tourism growth
In 2009 the tourist industry in the Autonomous Region of Madeira was
characterized by a drop in key indicators. Total income, overnight stays and guest
arrivals in accommodation establishments decreased by 14.1%, 11.5% and 10.1%
respectively. The months of February, March and July presented the most significant
breaks in the overnights (-16.2%, -15.5% and -13.6%, respectively), greatly influenced
by a decrease in global demand as a result of market recoil due to the global financial
crisis.
Tourist establishments in the municipality of Santana recorded in 2009, 35,960
overnight stays, -14.2% than in the previous year and an annual change of -13.5% in
the number of incoming guests. The net rate of bed occupancy stood at 27.2% and the
rate of bedroom occupancy at 25.1%. Monthly, the months that recorded room
occupation rate above annual average, were April (35.0%), May (46.1%), June (27.4%),
July (27.9%), August (35.0%), September (28.0%) and October (28.4%) and below
average in November (17.6%), December (10.8%), January (8.9 %), February (15.6%)
and March (19.9%). Room occupancy rates below the regional average (54.8%), it is
apparent that Santana has seasonal influx of tourists and with few tourists, expressed at
low occupancy of the few beds that local units have.
It is however expected that the Municipality of Santana will adopt a sustainable
development strategy, promoting its natural and cultural heritage which will lead to
medium-term increases in the number of tourists and occupancy rates.
Tourism Development Potential
The municipality of Santana brings together natural and cultural characteristics with
high tourism potential, especially for nature tourism, ecotourism, scientific tourism,
Application of Santana, Madeira to Biosphere Reserve – UNESCO - MAB 125