British tourists flocked to Portugal on the first day of opening

On the first day of the resumption of international travel between the UK and Portugal, 22 flights carried eager and excited guests after a long period of restrictions.
To travel to Portugal, British travelers must present proof of a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours of departure and do not have to be quarantined upon returning home. In addition to Britons, citizens from European countries with fewer than 500 infections per 100,000 people will also be allowed to enter Portugal, starting May 17.

British tourists can’t hide their excitement for a trip to the sunny and warm seas of southern Portugal. “It was amazing. The feeling was unbelievable. We saw the sun again, the beaches and the bars” – British tourist Matthew Bolden said eagerly. Visitor John Thomson said that what he wants to experience right here in Portugal is the beautiful golf courses, but still need to maintain distance and stay safe. The sunny beaches of Portugal are in the favorite destination of British tourists. Source: Reuters A representative of a hotel in Portugal said that the facility had reached 50% of room capacity on the first day and will continue to increase in the next two weeks: “We have prepared very carefully and welcome guests. More special than usual. The hotel has a strict cleaning and disinfection program and provides information on the rules in Portugal so that guests can enjoy their stay. The most important thing is that visitors are safe.” Portugal has eased restrictions set in place over the past four months, reopening restaurants and shopping. However, restaurants are still limited in capacity and must close at 10:30 pm. On the beaches, visitors still have to wear masks. Nightclubs and indoor alcohol bars remain closed. Data from the website Skyscanner shows that bookings to Portugal increased by 616% in about a week after Britain published its “green list” of safe countries to travel. The Portuguese tourism industry hopes that the return of British tourists – a market that contributed 3.2 billion euros in revenue to the Portuguese economy in 2019 – will create a necessary impetus for the sector accounting for 15% of the country’s GDP.