Calheta will create bases for digital nomads

“Of course, Calheta also has digital nomads. And in increasing number. Obviously, the headquarters are in Ponta do Sol, at the John dos Passos Foundation, in an investment by Startup Madeira that, fortunately, appeared in good time, but the truth is that we, in the municipality of Calheta, already feel this growth. We think it is a very important niche, despite being a type of work tourism, which is always in movement. Today they are here, tomorrow they will be in another country or region”. That is how Carlos Teles refers to JM before his municipality starts allocating digital nomads.

The Mayor reveals that “we have excellent conditions for that. These range from our climate, our peace, our security, which today, in the middle of 2021, is increasingly important. Calheta is a safe place, a place with people who like to welcome, where they feel perfectly integrated, where they have all the conditions, even in terms of telecommunications, which are essential for them. In fact, in this respect, Madeira is an example, because it has excellent networks with high capacities to be able to work in this sector”.

The deeds, guarantees the Mayor of Calheta, are already being felt. “We have felt this growth”, he says, referring that “a few days ago I had the opportunity to see a very beautiful news report about digital nomads on a national television channel. This report focused on the municipality of Ponta do Sol, but 50%, or more, of these images were in the municipality of Calheta. I was very happy when I saw the news report, because I saw my municipality, but I was a little sad because they made no reference to Calheta. But over time we will get around this”.

In other words, "the digital nomads are already helping small businesses, the bars, the cafes, the restaurants, the supermarkets, the shops, which also live on this proximity tourism". But Calheta wants more and is already working to create its own bases.