Forget Sydney, New York or London when it comes to New Years fireworks displays. According to Guinness, Funchal is the undisputed champion and home to the Biggest Fireworks Display in the World.
While the feat will only be published later this year, Madeira learnt last week of its record-setting achievement.
Madeira Tourism Secretary, Joo Carlos Abreu confirmed that an inspector from the Guinness Book was in Funchal over the festive period to verify, in person, the regions long-standing claim to fame.
Shortly afterwards, the third-best selling book in the world (after the Bible and the Koran) confirmed Madeira was the place to be for New Years revellers.
The display in Madeira this year cost the regional government 1.2 million euros, in what that covered 2.7 kilometres around the city of Funchal and based on Vivaldis Four Seasons.
Between Christmas and New Year, hotels in Madeira recorded an occupancy rate of 94 percent. And with its inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records, it now looks set to push this figure closer to the 100 percent target at the end of 2007.
While the feat will only be published later this year, Madeira learnt last week of its record-setting achievement.
Madeira Tourism Secretary, Joo Carlos Abreu confirmed that an inspector from the Guinness Book was in Funchal over the festive period to verify, in person, the regions long-standing claim to fame.
Shortly afterwards, the third-best selling book in the world (after the Bible and the Koran) confirmed Madeira was the place to be for New Years revellers.
The display in Madeira this year cost the regional government 1.2 million euros, in what that covered 2.7 kilometres around the city of Funchal and based on Vivaldis Four Seasons.
Between Christmas and New Year, hotels in Madeira recorded an occupancy rate of 94 percent. And with its inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records, it now looks set to push this figure closer to the 100 percent target at the end of 2007.
