For foreigners wishing to stop in Portugal or who have booked an ongoing trip, there is a new insurance program that provides COVID-19 coverage.
Promoted through RNA Assistance Insurance, a Portuguese travel insurance company, Portugal’s travel insurance program would cover surgical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses related to the country’s existing pandemic.
Travel insurance in Portugal coincides with other programmes in correlation with fitness and protection tourism measures that respond to the effect of COVID-19. The insurance program has also received the approval of VisitPortugal, the country’s tourism office, to strengthen confidence in Portugal as a tourist destination.
According to Celina Tavares, director of VisitPortugal, this insurance plan created after a market investigation knew the new desires that travelers will have, with the pandemic always present.
According to Celina Tavares, director of VisitPortugal, this insurance plan created after a market research met new desires that travelers, with the ever-present pandemic, will face.
“We are all adapting to the ‘new normal’ and that tourists have the guarantee of an elegant adventure is essential at this time. Therefore, our insurance offers a special policy similar to an occasion derived from COVID-19 and aims to ensure more peace of mind to those who have a travel plan to Portugal,” Tavares explained.
The travel insurance programme in Portugal, which is optional for travellers, coincides with other recent programmes in Portugal correlated as a reaction to the coVID-19 effect.
Tavares added that the insurance offering is also aligned with VisitPortugal’s Clean-Safe program. The latter program is in line with the physical fitness protection recommendations issued through the National Tourism Authority and in accordance with the rules of the National Health Authority.
Another tourism-related program is Portugal Health Passport, which was created to ensure that foreign tourists have direct access to personal English-speaking fitness professionals and fitness facilities at constant costs to the country.
Sheree Mitchell, who has lately lived in Lisbon and runs the firm Immersa Global, believes that Portugal Health Passport is “a test of Portugal’s commitment to creating a safe and healthy environment for visitors.”
“The range of the canopy is extensive. It only covers any possible coVID-19-like illness, but it also covers other travel-like medical emergencies, as well as regimen doctor visits such as eye exams and dental care,” said Mitchell, who divides his time between Lisbon and Miami.
Mitchell also noted that Portugal’s fitness passport includes predetermined rates, which helps keep its policy transparent and less stressful to the consumer.
Since Portugal reopened its borders at the end of June, Mitchell said that in the last two months there had been a slow but steady accumulation of tourism through European visitors. At the end of August, UK citizens received soft green for Portugal without having to stick to a mandatory quarantine in the past when they returned home.
Since July 1, the Portuguese have banned U.S. citizens from traveling to Portugal that are not essential (tourists).
Domestic tourism in Portugal is expanding considerably. Having recently completed a 14-day road through mainland Portugal, Mitchell discovered that many locals and citizens were exploring the country further.
“The hoteliers and restaurateurs I spoke to were pleasantly surprised that so many Portuguese people are traveling to Portugal this year,” Mitchell said. “[For example], most remote boutique hotels in the Alentejo region have been booked throughout the summer with local guests.”
As for restaurants, Mitchell pointed out that many of them already offered outdoor dining, which is permitted. For the ones that didn’t before pre-pandemic hit, Portugal’s municipalities are allowing them to create sidewalk dining spaces.
“I’ve eaten everywhere, from a small circle of family restaurants to Michelin-starred restaurants, and the regulations are exactly the same everywhere,” Mitchell said. “Leave your hands blank when you arrive, wear a mask until you are sitting at your table and stay two meters from the others.”
Similar mandates for the protection and public conditioning of the Portuguese Directorate-General for Health apply for the usual spaces of hotels, food shopping centres, public transport and all other enclosed spaces.
Currently, Portuguese citizens and visitors should wear a mask in enclosed public spaces (unless seated and dining in a restaurant) and use hand sanitizer before entering. They are also required to maintain a social distance of six feet from others and a chorus of cultural practice of greeting friends and the circle of relatives with kisses on the cheek.
If someone suspects that they have contracted COVID-19, they go to quarantine and ask for help by contacting the Portuguese National Health Department.
Michele Herrmann develops guides on American and foreign destinations and writes about trends, gastronomy and culture for various print and virtual media and
Michele Herrmann develops guides on American and foreign destinations and writes about trends, gastronomy and culture for various print and virtual media and agencies.