The lifting of the quarantine imposed on travellers from Portugal is being considered a “step forward” for tourism and the Algarve hotel industry is “hopeful” regarding the impact of the measure on reservations, according to the main regional hotel association.
“The measure is yet another step towards lifting restrictions, which in practice have impeded and continue to impede travel, and we are somewhat expectant about the impact this could have on increased demand from British tourists,” said the president of the Association of Hotels and Touristic Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), Elidérico Viegas.
The association leader said that it is “still too soon” to know how this measure will impact demand, because, he recalled, “some of the previous restrictions continue to be maintained, namely the requirement, two days after returning to the United Kingdom, to do a PCR test”.
“Our country has not yet lifted restrictions on the entry of British tourists with two doses of the vaccine, which is a pity, and it is still required to have a test to enter Portugal”, said Elidérico Viegas.
“Our estimations point to us having an occupancy level in the months of July and August that could potentially be around 60 percent, still far from the usual 100 percent that occurred before the pandemic”, he said.
The president of AHETA stressed that these predicted occupancy rates are “more or less identical” to last year and lamented that “predictions of having a much better summer than last year” are being “compromised by the restrictions that continue to be to be announced and by the recommendations of countries that are very important in the tourist demand of the region, such as Germany, Holland and Ireland”.
“And we are somewhat curious to know what the real impact of lifting these restrictions on the increase in demand by British tourists will be”, he reiterated, recalling that the United Kingdom is the main source of tourists to the Algarve.
AHETA considers though that these latest measures from England to be “a positive measure” and hopes that “it can contribute to increasing demand from British tourists”, because “any positive impact on this market will soon have an impact on occupancy rates and on the economic results of tourism companies”.
“I think the whole world has realised that we are going to have to deal with the pandemic and we have to find different solutions from those we have found so far, because it is not possible to lockdown, ease lockdown and lockdown again consistently. This brings very high losses and, to a great extent, these measures or restrictions in slowing the pandemic are also often contradictory and even show dubious effectiveness,” he said.
Elidérico Viegas therefore asked the ‘competent entities around the world and in Portugal’ to ‘take measures to reconcile the fight against the pandemic, while getting the world back to work”, because “continuing to fight the pandemic by stopping the economy” is resulting in a “disaster that can cause bigger problems than the pandemic itself”.
On 19 July, England lifted almost all restrictions imposed to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, including the mandatory use of masks in most situations.
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, justified the decision with the success of the vaccination programme in the country - two thirds of adults have both doses - which has reduced serious illness, hospitalisations and deaths, thus removing the risk of overloading the health system.
Nobody in their right mind would allow British visitors without proof of a double jab, given the chaos in the UK. It would be the very definition of false economy.
By David Littlewood from Algarve on 23 Jul 2021, 12:45
The costs of the testing requirement make a holiday expensive. No one seems to be challenging why tests in the U K are so expensive. We will not be flying to Portugal until there are no testing requirements or the price of tests comes down or is offered for free
By Sandra from UK on 23 Jul 2021, 14:13
Take no notice of Johnson the biggest Liar that set foot in Parlement . He does not know the meaning of truth. The sooner he is replaced the better.
By Me from Lisbon on 23 Jul 2021, 15:52
It's good for the Algarve that the British tourists are coming back. But would also be very good to bring in tourists from all over Europe, including the USA, and Canada, the more the merrier. Not just to the Algarve but to the whole Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira. This would boost the Hotel business, other businesses, and would make the economy strong. Portugal would win.
By Tony from Other on 23 Jul 2021, 16:12
The brits want to come, its the testing thats putting people off. The test can cost more than the flights. And its 100 euro for a pcr test in portugal to return to the UK. Loads of brits are cancelling holidays to Europe because e of the cost and hassle of testing.
By Maxine Morris from UK on 23 Jul 2021, 16:34
If Portugal are hoping for UK holidaymakers this summer, then their Government 'must' also recognise the Indian Astra Zeneca vaccine that 5 million UK people were given!
By Elizabeth Davis from UK on 23 Jul 2021, 18:14
While there are crazy rules of 4 per table in a restaurant or bar, or 6 on a terrace, as well as proof of double jab or testing, not to forget the 10:30 eviction and 11:00pm curfew. Nobody will want to be spending thousands of pounds and then not be able to enjoy the nightlife that is a big part of a holiday.
By Night Owl from Algarve on 24 Jul 2021, 23:30
We rebooked our holiday to Alvor this Sept. We should have gone last Sept but were unable to do so and, we’ve booked the same accommodation again and were able to change our flights. The situation remains uncertain and, unless there is a significant improvement in the Covid rates, both in the UK and Portugal and, the cost of tests and the horror of possible quarantine in Portugal are still present, we’ll stay at home. This would be a great shame not only for us and other tourists but also for the Portuguese people. More needs to be done to offset the additional costs and to bring down the infection rates.
By Peter from Algarve on 27 Jul 2021, 12:51