Tourism continues to be the main economic force in Porto Santo, but the City Council is trying to limit new hotel construction and place sustainability at the centre of its strategy. Mayor Nuno Batista said the island has clear limits, especially because of human pressure, and rejected any model based on mass tourism. He argued that Porto Santo, with about 43 square kilometres, can still support different organised and sustainable tourism approaches while being promoted as a “refuge of the senses.” The municipality, led by the PSD/CDS-PP, has approved €16 million in projects under the 2030 community framework, with spending aimed at quality of life, heritage restoration and environmental sustainability. According to the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira, Porto Santo reached its highest number of tourists in collective accommodation in August 2025, when 19,377 guests stayed in 26 establishments, not counting around 200 registered local accommodation units. Over the full year, those 26 hotel units welcomed 134,731 guests, including 97,083 from Portugal and 37,648 from abroad, mainly Germany, the UK and Denmark. Batista also criticised the lack of air connectivity, saying there is still no year-round connection to mainland Portugal and that this weakens territorial cohesion for residents and visitors alike.
