Madeira's recent certification as a sustainable tourism destination has sparked political debate in the Autonomous Region. Socialist Party MP Sílvia Sousa Silva criticized the Regional Government for promoting an image of international leadership in sustainability, based on criteria she deems selective and out of touch with reality.
Criticisms focus on indicators such as waste management, where the landfill disposal rate per person does not reflect real efficiency, and the methodology of external evaluation, which may not be representative. Concerns about the quality of bathing waters and concrete issues like waste accumulation on hiking trails were also raised, contrasting with the promoted image.
The opposition claims sustainability is used more for territorial marketing than as a policy cornerstone, with an excessive reliance on tourism. The Regional Government, conversely, defends the robustness of the certification process and the implemented measures.
