Owner of Djabraba Eco's Lodge Denounces Crisis in Maritime Transport and Warns of an Uncertain Future for Tourism on Brava

The owner of Djabraba Eco's Lodge, Marco Giandinoto, has once again denounced the persistent problems with the maritime transport serving Brava Island, stating that the situation has caused losses for the tourism sector and created an atmosphere of constant uncertainty for residents and visitors.

According to Giandinoto, Djabraba Eco's Lodge has been in operation since June 2012 and has already lost customers, including entire groups, due to difficulties related to maritime transport. The business owner states that the instability of the ferry service prevents normal planning of activities and causes daily anxiety among tour operators.

“We can’t organize our work because at any moment the boat trip can be canceled for one reason or another,” he said, also criticizing the use of the Praia d’Aguada vessel as an alternative in certain situations.

In his opinion, the vessel does not offer the necessary conditions to meet the expectations of tourists, who seek safety, comfort, and predictable schedules. Giandinoto believes that the lack of regularity and predictability in ferry service constitutes a serious obstacle to the development of tourism on the island.

The businessman also recounted a specific situation recently experienced by a hotel guest, who had been waiting to board since 2:00 p.m. and, as of 5:00 p.m., still did not know what time the boat would depart.

“Who comes to Brava for tourism without the certainty of being able to leave?” he asked.

For Giandinoto, the problem spans different administrations and political parties, and no lasting solution has been found. The owner believes that the decisions made over the years—including handing over management of maritime transport to a Portuguese company—have not helped resolve the existing problems and, in his view, have actually made the situation worse.

These statements reflect the growing concern among business owners in the tourism sector on Brava, who depend on regular and reliable maritime connections to welcome and transport visitors. For the owner of Djabraba Eco’s Lodge, the current situation jeopardizes the future of tourism and could contribute to the stagnation of the island’s economic development.

“At this time, we sincerely believe that Brava faces an uncertain future for tourism and stagnant economic development,” he concluded.