Tourists in Madeira to pay for costly rescue operations
The authorities of Madeira have introduced new regulations that will charge tourists with penalties equivalent to the costs of rescue operations if they provoke dangerous situations themselves. This decision is driven by the need to save money, as an hour-long rescue operation using a helicopter and two pilots costs more than 1,700 CAD.
In Madeira, which is an autonomous region of Portugal, new regulations have been introduced for tourists who, due to irresponsible behaviour, require rescue assistance. According to the new regulations, tourists who ignore bans or stray from designated trails will have to cover the costs of the rescue operation themselves.
Irresponsible behaviour will lighten tourists' wallets
The authorities of Madeira emphasize that the decision to introduce these new regulations is a necessary cost-saving measure. The cost of an hour-long rescue operation using a helicopter and two pilots exceeds 1,700 CAD.
Interestingly, the new regulations do not apply to residents of the tourist island.
Rescue operations in Madeira
Over the past year, several rescue operations have been conducted in Madeira, including a mission to rescue a couple who got stuck by a cliff at Ponta do Pargo. This operation required the use of a helicopter from the neighbouring island of Porto Santo.
One of the recent incidents was a rescue operation on January 3rd, when a couple had to spend the night in a cave due to the tide. Rescuers from four Portuguese formations concluded the operation the next day with the support of a helicopter.
The new regulations aim to discourage tourists from engaging in risky activities that could lead to dangerous situations requiring intervention by rescue services. The authorities of Madeira hope that the introduction of financial penalties will reduce the number of such incidents.
