The Boa Vista and Maio Development Corporation was due to be presented yesterday in Praia. The Corporation's charter will define the foundations on which it will be based, with one of its main principles being the proper articulation between the objectives of developing high-quality tourism and preserving the environment on the two islands.

The charter establishes a relatively low occupation standard - approximately 4.5 rooms per hectare, which represents, on average, occupation of less than 15% of the area of the islands’ Integrated Tourist Development Zones.

This figure is expected to be sufficient to make future investments and all of their necessary infra-structures economically viable. “Of the 6,551 hectares encompassed in the totality of Boa Vista’s and Maio’s Integrated Tourist Development Zones, some 85% will be kept free of occupation,” reads the document.

Of the 15% of the Zones open for occupation, half will be reserved for open-air activities, while the other half will be reserved for the implementation and construction of buildings, equipment and other infrastructures. Of the total area, 70% will be reserved for environmental protection zones and 15% for landscape treatment.

The figures will allow Boa Vista to construct a total of 23,400 rooms to receive tourists in the Integrated Tourist Development Zones of Chaves, Varandinha and Santa Mónica, while Maio will be permitted a total of 6,800 rooms in the Tourist Development Zones of Pau Seco, Norte Vila do Maio and Sul Vila do Maio.According to the plans, Boa Vista will see the creation of 14,000 direct jobs and 39,300 indirect work posts. On Maio, some 4,000 direct job posts and 11,200 indirect job posts will be created.