There are still many
complications, much confusion and lots of uncertainty, but here’s the
nitty-gritty of what’s known about the prospects for tourism from abroad.
Foreign holidaymakers are
expected to start arriving in Portugal in significant numbers in May and June.
The UK has long been Portugal’s
biggest source of foreign visitors, but the British Government has made it
clear that no holidaymakers from England will be allowed to go anywhere abroad
before May 17.
Top easyJet, Ryanair and other
airline officials have strongly urged the British Government to include
Portugal on a proposed “Green List” of countries and allow flights to
resume on May 17. They have asked that they be informed well ahead of this date
so they can properly prepare their aircraft and staff for takeoff.
EasyJet has already announced
that in addition to its normal airport terminals in the UK it will open new
routes to holiday hotspots from Birmingham.
The government authorities in
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have yet to announce the lifting of the
May 17 travel ban.
Advice on the start of
international travel is expected to be contained in a report
commissioned by the UK Government and due to be delivered next Monday, April
12.
The “Green Light” category of
travellers will probably only need to be able to show that they have tested negative shortly before and after international travel. They will not be
required to quarantine on arrival or returning.
For
visitors from Ireland, the Portuguese Government requires the following
measures effective until midnight April 15:
•
Have a negative / ‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR
test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Portugal.
•
Present evidence of their negative/‘not detected’ result before boarding their
flight, and to Portuguese immigration officers on arrival at points of entry.
Such a scenario is less certain
regarding Portugal’s other major sources of holiday visitors, particularly
Germany, France and the Netherlands, which have all been described as “high
risk” areas because of recent surges in Covid infections amid the European
Union’s slow rollout of vaccines.
The agreement between Portugal
and Spain on the closure of their land and river borders will run at least
until April 15 by which time it will be reviewed. The transportation of
essential goods is among the exemptions currently in place, but cross-border
leisure travel is forbidden.
Holiday travel to Portugal from
the United States and Canada has yet to be given the official go-ahead.
All
passengers travelling to the Archipelago of the Azores must fill out a
questionnaire of the Regional Health Authority within 72 hours before
their departure. After completing the questionnaire, they will receive a
code that they must use to identify themselves upon landing.
All passengers
travelling to Madeira by air must complete the "Madeira Safe to
Discover" web app registration at www.madeirasafe.com in
the 12 to 48 hours before departure. If they do not complete it before the
flight, they will have to do so on their mobile device after landing by using
the QR codes posted at the airport or by providing their data to the staff
available for that purpose.
The Portuguese Government in the
weeks ahead will be systematically reviewing all its current restrictions on
holiday travel. Meanwhile, throughout mainland Portugal small groups may be
served on outside tables in cafes and restaurants and museums have been among
the facilities recently opened after two months of lockdown. The plan is to
allow the reopening of restaurants indoors as well as outdoors on May 19. All
stores and shopping centres as well as auditoriums and theatres will be back in
business on April 19.
All sports, gyms, indoor and outdoor
physical activities and other events will be permitted with reduced capacity
from May 3.
The coronavirus is not going away
anytime soon and so basic rules such as the wearing of facemasks and
appropriate social distancing will remain mandatory in public places throughout
Portugal at least until June 13
While many Covid uncertainties
remain, one thing beyond any doubt is that all sections of the Portuguese
tourist industry that is so vital for this country’s economy, want to welcome
with open arms any holidaymakers frustrated by lockdowns in each of their home
countries.
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