Medeira, the Pearl of the Atlantic, is renowned for being a civilised island where there are few high rise buildings and new hotels only get planning permission if they have at least four stars.
However, needs must. For the first two months of 2009, tourism numbers were down 15 per cent year-on-year and property prices down 20 per cent estate agents say, so plans are afoot to give its economy a boost.
Madeira is the main island in an archipelago which lies 300 kilometres off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic, north of the Canary Islands. It is a semi-autonomous region of Portugal. Most of the islands are uninhabited with half of its 250,000 population living in the capital of Funchal on Madeira which is also the archipelago's main port.
To help revive flagging tourism (and the value of holiday homes) the number of golf courses are being doubled from two to five (four on Madeira and one on an outlying island) and there is talk of moving the liner terminal out of Funchal harbour, so large yachts can moor.
Some locals worry the islands' sedate way of life is being sacrificed to development – plans for a cable car running through Rabacal forest on Madeira island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have been slammed a “tourist gimmick” by islanders.
Less controversially, new holiday homes are being built. These include Palheiro Village which has 44 villas and 79 flats overlooking Funchal. Prices from GBP295,000 for one bed flats.
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