Portugal is hoping to reopen its frontiers to welcome travelers from the beginning of May, Secretary of State for tourism Rita Marques informed the BBC.
With the national press insisting the government’s deconfinement plan ‘still has no dates’, the return to tourism appears to be an exception.
“For the time being non-essential journeys have to be restricted but we believe Portugal can allow unrestricted travel very soon – not just for vaccinated individuals but for those who are immune or who have tested negative”, Ms Marques informed the British broadcaster.
She qualified “very soon” to meaning “it’ll happen soon, within the next two months. Maybe in May, the beginning of May” – adding that “everything will be ready” to allow the British to visit as soon as their own government lets them.
As to the legislation paving the way for Europe’s ‘Digital Green Pass’, this is due to be presented to the European Parliament on May 17.
The UK remains the principal market when it comes to Portuguese tourism.
In response to numbers published by INE (national statistics institute) even in 2020 it represented 16.3% of all non-resident sleepovers, despite the 78.5% fall in business compared to the previous yr.
Right now, however, Portugal stays on the UK’s ‘red list’ of nations that require all people travelling from them to be compulsorily quarantined in airport hotels at their own expense for 10 days.
The only travel allowed between the 2 nations is ‘essential’ and involving Portuguese citizens and legal residents in Portugal – and these must present negative Covid tests in order to be accepted.
The British government has mentioned it won’t be authorising its citizens for foreign travel before May 17.
Indeed anyone wishing to leave the nation at the moment has to fill out a government type – failure to do so potentially incurring a fine of £200.
Ms Marques’ statements to the BBC were publicised in a report that also mentions Cyprus as being ready to welcome Brits who’ve been vaccinated, and can show their vaccination certificates.
Cyprus entered into a reciprocal deal with Israel to begin receiving residents for holidays from last month.