Published on : Saturday, May 16, 2020
The Algarve in southern Portugal will be open for tourists this summer and will welcome international visitors once travel restrictions are lifted.
João Fernandes, president of Algarve Tourism, commented that the country was quick to adopt preventive measures and extensive testing at an early stage to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, and as a result they had much fewer cases than other European countries.
The Algarve is one of the least affected regions in Portugal, and so they are now in a position to carefully plan a gradual reopening of its economic and social activity.
Since January the region has seen 360 Covid-19 cases while the European Commission has unveiled its plans to resuscitate tourism earlier this week and will gradually reopen the market over the coming months.
Golf courses, marinas and car hire businesses are already open with strict health protocols in the Algarve.
So far, over a third of the hotels in the region are open and authorities are hoping to have 75 per cent open by next month and the balance by July.
With health regulations and procedures in place the beaches will open in June and restaurants will open on May 18th with 50 per cent capacity restrictions.
Fernandes said that as a result of a large effort by the national authorities, public and private sector agents in the region to define the best practices in terms of safety and security, the Algarve is ready to restart its tourist activity.
Sector agents in the region are strongly committed to reopening their businesses in a gradual, responsible and safe manner.
For the access of beaches rules are being defined which will be issued by the Portuguese Environment Agency shortly.
They will allow the use of these space, while guaranteeing safety for visitors and workers.
At Faro International Airport on arrival there will be measures which is aimed to ensure the protection of passengers and staff and public transport is subject to measures that isolate drivers from contact with passengers and the use of masks is mandatory for everyone.
The reopening of borders and the resumption of air traffic is the main factor that remains undefined and that prevents the return of tourist activity in full.
Fernandes concluded that several international airlines and tour operators are showing great interest in restarting their operations to the region, some of which already have information on their websites and are taking holiday reservations.