The “safe and healthy” experience for visitors to Murcia begins at the region’s international airport. Last month Corvera Airport Murcia received Airport Health Accreditation by the Airports Council International, after earlier in the year being recognised with an Airport Service Quality Award.
Now, in addition to offering internationally certified, top-quality airport facilities – as well as free COVID-19 insurance for tourists – the Murcia region is further enhancing its European holiday resort credentials by boosting services at beaches for people with disabilities or other mobility restrictions.
According to the ministry for tourism, this summer a total of 54 beaches in the region provide adapted facilities that make them accessible to all people, including 32 equipped with the full set of elements required to facilitate bathing for those with reduced mobility. Of these beaches, 20 are in Mar Menor and La Manga and 12 along the western coastline.
In addition, six of the 32 beaches provide a free service for assisted bathing in an amphibious chair with specialised personnel (three in Mazarrón – the Island, Junta de los Mares and Port; and three in Cartagena – San Ginés in La Azohía and Playa Honda and Puerto Bello in Mar Menor). On other beaches, civil protection personnel facilitate the use of an amphibious chair, but the disabled bather must be assisted by a companion.
Murcia Tourism Offices Receive Quality Certification
Murcia’s network of tourism offices around the region have obtained prestigious “Q for Quality” certification. Promoted and issued by the Institute of Spanish Tourism Quality, the certification accredits “the constant adaptation and continuous improvement of tourist information services provided by the various municipal offices”.
Murcia has the second highest number of certified municipal tourism offices (31) of any region in Spain, equal with Valencia and only topped by Andalucía (48). The network has previously been recognised as “Safe Tourism Certified”, which guarantees that a risk prevention system has been implemented to protect against COVID-19.
Announcing the latest certification and referring to the challenges posed by COVID-19 for tourism, minister for the presidency, tourism and sport Marcos Ortuño said, “Our priorities are focused on continuing to provide safe services, incorporating sustainability, applying sustainable development objectives and constituting a Smart Tourist Destination.”
Safe Destinations in Murcia
Earlier this month, regional president Fernando López Miras presided over a ceremony in Cartagena to present a new batch of Sistema Integral de Calidad Turística en Destinos (Quality Tourism System for Destinations – SICTED) diplomas to local tourism services and businesses.
He said this stamp of quality confirmed that Cartagena is a safe destination offering both quality services and health safety, as well as ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 measures.
“The Region of Murcia has become a fully certified safe tourist destination and we lead the way in Spain for the number of SICTED destinations.” Currently, 566 tourist services and businesses in the region have obtained a SICTED certificate.