Sharjah24 – AFP: Portugal will open to tourists from nearly all European countries from Monday, the interior ministry said, following months of restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The vacation hotspot hopes to jump-start a tourism comeback after one of the country's most vital industries was brought to a standstill by the pandemic.
Travellers from most EU countries, the 26-nation Schengen Area and the UK can make "all types of visits to Portugal, including even non-essential visits," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
But travel from countries with coronavirus rates above 500 cases per 100,000 residents during the last 14 days will remain restricted to essential trips -- currently affecting Cyprus, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The ministry stressed restrictions also remained on non-European countries including Brazil, India and South Africa.
"We're not opening tourism to the whole world. Restrictions remain for third (non-EU) countries," a ministry spokeswoman said.
Under the rules, all passengers above two years old heading to the country will still have to present a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours before embarking.
Airlines that allow passengers to travel without the test will face a fine of between 500 euros ($610) and 2,000 euros per passenger.
The announcement came a day after Lisbon lifted restrictions on Britain, one of its most important sources of tourists, which sent some two million visitors to Portugal annually before Covid-19 hit.
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