The Madeira Promotion Bureau has approved  the launch of a certification process for best practices in relation to the management of biological risks, which will be available to its associated companies.

This certification will cover companies in the tourism sector, such as: 

• Hotels, rural and local accommodation; 
• Restaurants; 
• Travel agencies; 
• Tourist entertainment and transportation of people; 
• Car rental; 
• And offices or other official tourism establishments

The project will take shape this April and, at the beginning of May, a webinar is planned for its members, where Madeira Promotion Bureau (MPB) will present the project, how to participate and also explain how the certification process will work. In June, the certification manual will be released, with the start of certifications expected in July. It should be noted that a capacity to certify 150 to 160 companies per month is proposed.

This MPB initiative will address the concerns of travelers as soon as it is possible for Madeira and Porto Santo to open their doors to tourism. Health security has gained vital importance for the relaunch of tourist destinations. Eduardo Jesus, Regional Secretary for Tourism and Culture and President of the Board at Madeira Promotion Bureau, says that; “The top priority is to overcome any fear of traveling and regain the traveler's confidence. The implementation of these measures will provide peace of mind to those who travel, and it is ultimately for the well-being of all. The decision to start the certification of the destination is to ensure we are upholding and guaranteeing our island’s offering, as a safe tourism location for our visitors. Madeira has been a tourism destination for more than two hundred years and has been an active partner in the emergence of therapeutic tourism. We know that, in this way, we can contribute objectively, in the appropriate manner to support the recovery of the sector, with the strength and dynamism that we all want.”

It is intended that this certification offers a competitive advantage for MPB members, in addition to the objective of reinforcing our image as a safe destination. 

According to the Executive Director of MPB, Nuno Vale “An international, accredited and independent certification is essential for all those operating in the tourism sector in Madeira Autonomous Region (RAM), because it marks a qualitative differentiation. This could become a necessary condition to operate in the tourism business. With this awareness, MPB will provide advantageous conditions for all its members to join the certification process and open the door to new entities to also join. Our certification as a safe tourist destination is crucial to our future. ”

The process will be carried out with the utmost rigor and quality assurance. For this, MPB has partnered with SGS, a company that will ensure the entire process. The SGS Group is a world leader in management systems certification and accredited in several areas by IPAC and certified in accordance with the standard NP EN ISSO 9001 2008 in the scope of inspection and auditing services for consumer goods and market studies.