Speaking to the BBC, Rita Marques said: “I do believe that Portugal will soon allow restriction-free travel, not only for vaccinated people, but those who are immune or who test negative. We hope to welcome British tourists from 17 May.”

Adding that the Covid-19 situation was now considered to be “stable” and that, “Everything will be ready by mid May.”

Further details regarding vaccine passports or testing upon arrival in Portugal were not discussed by Rita Marques.

While the Portuguese minister remains optimistic about welcoming Brits for the summer season, Portugal remains on the UK red list for travel, which means that anyone arriving from Portugal in the country still has to quarantine.

The status of Portugal, combined with foreign travel outside of the UK only being allowed for exceptional reasons, makes predictions as to when tourists from the UK will be able to return to Portugal for holidays unsure.

On 10 March, UK transport secretary Grant Schapps reiterated that travel from 17 May was the earliest possible date.

Schapps told the BBC that it was still too early to book a foreign summer holiday and stated that: “We have said it will remain illegal to travel internationally until at least 17 May - that’s an at-the-earliest date.”

He added that people should look for 12 April when a global travel taskforce report is due to be published giving further information on the travel situation.

“There are lots of questions the answer to which we simply don’t know yet about how safe it will be in June to travel around,” he said.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have not set a date for the start of international travel.