New rules hold tourists liable for risky rescues in Madeira
The authorities of Madeira have implemented regulations to hold tourists accountable for rescue operation costs if they provoke dangerous situations themselves. This applies to cases where vacationers on the Portuguese island ignore prohibitions, and the cost of such risky behavior will be steep.
On Madeira, a popular archipelago of Portugal, new regulations concerning tourists have been introduced. Individuals who ignore bans or stray off designated trails, putting themselves in danger, will have to cover the costs of the rescue operation.
This decision was approved by the authorities of the autonomous region. The new regulations, effective from Tuesday, stipulate that tourists will have to pay for organizing the rescue operation, including helicopter rental and the work of pilots and rescuers.
The cost of an hour-long operation using a helicopter and two pilots exceeds 1,230 USD. The authorities of Madeira justify these changes by citing the need for cost-saving measures.
Exceptions to the new regulations
The regulations do not apply to residents of the archipelago. Over the past year, several rescue operations involving a helicopter have been conducted on Madeira.
One such case was the rescue operation on January 3, when a couple from Poland got stuck near a cliff close to Ponta do Pargo. Due to the tide, they spent the night in a cave, and rescue came only the next day, thanks to a rescue team from the neighboring island of Porto Santo.
The new regulations aim to discourage tourists from engaging in risky actions and to increase safety on the island. The authorities of Madeira hope this will reduce the number of dangerous incidents.
