Golf holidays to Madeira are back on the agenda after a number of major airlines from across Europe restarted their summer flight schedules to the Portuguese island.
The UK, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Spain are among the first countries to resume their flights to Madeira, with airlines such as Easyjet, TAP Portugal, Tui, Jet2, Lufthansa and British Airways announcing a revised schedule.
Flights connecting Madeira Airport to the archipelago’s eastern-most island, Porto Santo, have also resumed with Binter and TAP Portugal both making the 20-minute flight between the two.
The islands reopened to international visitors on July 1. Prior to arrival, all passengers must complete the Regional Health Authority’s epidemiological survey and will need to submit a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure, although, if they have not performed a test in advance, they will be required to take one upon arrival at Madeira Airport – with costs covered by the local authorities. Incoming visitors will also be subject to thermal screening, even if they carry a negative test for COVID-19.
Discover Madeira, the consumer-facing brand of the Madeira Promotion Bureau, has been working with the local and Portuguese authorities to put plans in place for holidaymakers to return safely, with the ‘Madeira Safe to Discover‘ guidelines being stringently followed across the islands to control and prevent the spread of coronavirus and other possible infections.
Hotels, restaurants, bars, golf clubs and other tourist activities across the islands are also adopting the “Clean and Safe” stamp, created by VisitPortugal, which distinguishes tourist activities which are compliant with certain hygiene and cleaning requirements.
Madeira is home to three golf courses, with Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf located on the mainland, and Porto Santo Golf located on the nearby island of Porto Santo. The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport – available from most hotels and the golf clubs – which entitles the bearer to five rounds of golf across the two ‘mainland’ tracks: Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf.
A spokesman from Discover Madeira said: “It is fantastic to see tourists returning to our beautiful destination from across Europe. We are proud to offer a safe and relaxing escape in spectacular surroundings and we are looking forward welcoming even more visitors over the coming months as more services resume.”