Portugal: Algarve tourist chief welcomes British visitors

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Joao Fernandes appeared extremely happy to welcome back British tourists as international travel restarted for countries on the UK’s green list. There are currently 12 countries on the green list with Portugal being a popular choice as the alternatives are too far to travel to or are not the right climate for summer holidays. Mr Fernandes spoke with British tourists at the airport and revealed many would be receiving coronavirus gift boxes on their arrival. 

Several British tourists spoke to Sky News and spoke of their joy to be able to travel once more with one passenger stating he always visited Portugal this time of year and it was a welcome break. 

Mr Fernandes met with the tourists at the airport and was asked what he would tell potential travellers. 

He told the broadcaster: “You are most welcome here and it is a pleasure to receive, finally, the British holidaymakers.

“You are very important to our economy but you also are our friends.

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“You used to come here before and you used to live among us and you are really most welcome thank you so much for coming.”

Mr Fernandes was also holding a box of supplies which would be given to every tourist entering the country through the airport.

He said: “We have a kit that has two masks made in Portugal, alcohol gel, and a small welcome flower.

“It is given outside of the airport and it’s driven to pass you a message of stay safe.

“It is important to have leisure and it is important to have rest but it’s also important that you keep safe while doing it.”

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Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary told BBC Breakfast that travel confidence was on the rise after he saw holiday bookings rise from 500,000 a week in early April to 1.5million today. 

Green list countries do not require quarantines on arrival but are still subject to negative coronavirus tests taken 72 hours before travelling.

Officials warned against travellers going into amber list destinations, like Spain, or red list countries during their holidays as they would then be required to quarantine on return which could potentially cost thousands. 

While international travel has been occurring during lockdown it is only allowed if the travel is permitted by government outlined reasons. 

Green list countries are the only countries you can visit for leisure as amber and red list countries are banned unless for work, medical, diplomatic or other government reasons. 

It is expected more countries will be put on the green list as vaccine programmes tackle the coronavirus but while they may be on the UK’s safe travel list it is still down to individual countries to decide whether they would allow British travellers. 

Tourism counts for a fifth of Greece’s economy as the country opens up its borders to other countries to kickstart the sector. 

Brits could travel to Greece following May 17 but would be subject to testing and quarantine rules on arrival and return.

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