Madeira reopening to international travellers from July 1

Madeira and Porto Santo, both autonomous regions of Portugal which sit off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean, have announced plans to reopen to international visitors from July 1.

All holidaymakers travelling to the islands will need to present a negative virus test done within 72 hours prior to departure or be tested on arrival – with costs covered by the Madeira government.

Eduardo Jesus, Regional Secretary of Tourism and Culture of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, says: “Madeira and Porto Santo will reopen to tourism on July 1, the date when the mandatory quarantine is eliminated. The reopening will be carried out safely and aiming to recover the confidence of both travellers and locals.

“Madeira Islands has had very few cases of Covid-19 and acted quickly to control the virus on the archipelago. Until the present date the islands of Madeira have registered 90 positive cases of COVID-19, no community contamination, and no deaths.”

Yesterday, it was reported that Portugal could be ‘in talks’ with the UK over forming an air bridge between the two nations – a travel corridor that would enable residents between two countries to holiday without the need to quarantine.

This air bridge would also allow Brits who visit Portugal to bypass the new quarantine regulations coming into play on June 8 , which state any incoming visitors from foreign countries must quarantine themselves for two weeks on arrival.

However, a source told Reuters these talks were ‘still in an initial phase’.