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Are Portugal allowing in Brit tourists?

46 replies

BackIn · 11/05/2021 09:30

I’m confused. I know it’s on our green list but according to the various government websites it says ‘essential travel’ only. Various rules for Portuguese residents returning from various countries and other sets of rules for people visiting for health and work reasons. Nothing at all about leisure travel or tourism. Can anyone find exactly the rules please? As I’m reading that people are booking hols there.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 11/05/2021 09:34

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

That’s the official guidance holidays wouldn’t be classed as essential so not yet allowed

BackIn · 11/05/2021 09:35

Entry to Portugal is allowed if you are a returning resident. For all other travellers, entry is limited to essential purposes only if you are travelling from:
Yes, it says this...
But I’m constantly reading that people are booking half term holidays there.
‘the UK or any other non-EU/EEA country, or
an EU/EEA country where the COVID-19 incidence rate exceeds 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.’

OP posts:
Zodlebud · 11/05/2021 09:37

No - essential travel only permitted at present (so if you wanted to visit a dying relative) and no date for when this will change.

The Portuguese government have been quite vocal that they want British tourists back this summer though so unless their rates shoot up (or ours) then I would imagine it’s likely.

That’s the problem with the green list. The U.K. will let you back in without quarantine but will the country you are travelling to let you in????

Mabelene · 11/05/2021 09:45

Not at the moment, there may be more information in the next few days

We are now only vaccinating the over 60s so I hope they take this into account

BackIn · 11/05/2021 12:01

I’ve read that Portugal is reviewing situation in 16th May. Is that correct please?

OP posts:
Mabelene · 11/05/2021 12:53

Not that I’ve heard, there could be an announcement Thursday or Friday, but it could also be next week

Serenschintte · 11/05/2021 13:00

The green list is a nonesense in my opinion. The govt should have made it clearer that this list of countries may not let British tourists in. It’s a very civil servant list - in that it only explains 1 thing - that it will be legal to travel to those countries. But not the other aspect - of will they actually let you in. So currently it’s meaningless

Sirzy · 11/05/2021 19:02

I don’t often defend the goverment but when I listened to the briefing they did make it clear that people should check local rules before travelling

Serenschintte · 11/05/2021 19:41

There’s little point in list when those countries won’t let you in! At least the govt made reference to it.

Needingsomeguidance · 12/05/2021 16:43

The Portuguese government seem keen, I'm hoping for an announcement in the next couple of days!

www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/algarve-tourism-officials-welcome-england-reopening/

Mabelene · 12/05/2021 18:24

Well I hope enough come to replace the residents and Portuguese citizens, who will be staying away from the bars and restaurants until we are also vaccinated Sad

GlomOfNit · 13/05/2021 11:06

Portugal is still currently under some restrictions, though things have eased quite a bit over last few weeks and the State of Emergency stopped at the end of April. Do remember though, three months ago or so it had (briefly) the worst death rates per capita for the world. Sad The very efficient lockdown and (I understand) fairly good level of public compliance brought it right down but things can change so fast.

The vaccine roll-out in Portugal has been really slow, compared with the UK but largely in line with other EU countries. So while my heart leaps at the idea of getting back into the land of my fathers, I'm not sure it's a great idea yet. They badly need the money from tourism but only about 3 million Portuguese have been vaccinated. My dad, who is in late 70's, won't get his second jab until July. Sad

Don't forget that the Green List is just a list of countries from which returnees won't have to quarantine on their return to the UK.... I'm sure Portugal will welcome tourists soon, because they can't really afford not to, but the president did say he'd have no hesitation in re-imposing the State of Emergency if needed (and that was a lot stricter than our strictest lockdown restrictions!).

Mabelene · 13/05/2021 13:24

They have announced today that over 55s can schedule vaccinations so it’s a bit of progress, it was over 60s last week

Parker231 · 13/05/2021 16:20

Read today that there is still a ban on non EU member states travelling to Portugal.

Mabelene · 13/05/2021 17:29

At the moment, yes there is

Bul21ia · 13/05/2021 17:31

@Serenschintte

The green list is a nonesense in my opinion. The govt should have made it clearer that this list of countries may not let British tourists in. It’s a very civil servant list - in that it only explains 1 thing - that it will be legal to travel to those countries. But not the other aspect - of will they actually let you in. So currently it’s meaningless
Exactly there’s no point of putting a destination under the GREEN if they don’t want us.
daisypond · 13/05/2021 17:37

@Serenschintte

The green list is a nonesense in my opinion. The govt should have made it clearer that this list of countries may not let British tourists in. It’s a very civil servant list - in that it only explains 1 thing - that it will be legal to travel to those countries. But not the other aspect - of will they actually let you in. So currently it’s meaningless
The green list isn’t about which countries you can legally travel to. It’s about which countries you can return from without quarantining.
Zodlebud · 13/05/2021 18:04

@daisypond It’s not just designed to inform British citizens, it’s also information for people that live in those countries so they can visit us. U.K. tourism has really suffered and in effectively opening our borders to those countries and populations who pose very little risk, it is a small kick start to the tourism economy.

I think some people are thinking the list is just for where we can all go on holiday (or not as the case may be). It’s not at all.

lurker101 · 13/05/2021 18:11

It doesn’t look good does it? 😭 I was google translating their press conference this afternoon, given they’ve extended “calamity” to end of May, seems unlikely to open for tourism until at least 1 June

TheAlphaandtheOmega · 13/05/2021 18:36

Isn't the football match on the 29th or are football fans exempt.

Sirzy · 13/05/2021 19:02

@TheAlphaandtheOmega

Isn't the football match on the 29th or are football fans exempt.
That’s what I don’t get. According to Granada reports fans from both clubs can travel
lurker101 · 13/05/2021 19:57

According to Portuguese update I was reading they can travel, but must travel on charter flights in and out of Porto on the date of the match. They are assuming they will act as a “bubble” and not have time to interact with the local population

Needingsomeguidance · 13/05/2021 20:57

@lurker101 can you link what you've read please?

I've been looking for the updates but can't see anything Sad

lurker101 · 13/05/2021 23:30

@Needingsomeguidance I used google translate on this live blog of the press conference

www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/feiras-itinerantes-parques-infantis-e-parques-aquaticos-podem-funcionar-veja-em-direto?ref=HP_PrimeirosDestaques

Needingsomeguidance · 14/05/2021 08:08

Thank you @lurker101 I still feel confused reading it but agree it doesn't look likely Sad

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