en 
14.15.2021 13:56 UPDATE: See news on travel update here: https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2021-05-14/non-essential-travel-to-the-uk-allowed-from-monday/59889
The announcement was made by the British government on 7 May and was heralded as “good news” by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, who added that the end of restrictions imposed by England on trips to Portugal constitutes “recognition of the effort made by Portuguese”.
It is “undoubtedly” good news, he said, as it means “recognition of the effort made by the Portuguese” which has “resulted in having a controlled pandemic situation today”, as he reacted to the news that as of 17 in May, Portugal will appear on the “green list” of countries considered safe to travel and exempt from quarantine on arrival in England. The green list is expected to be updated every three weeks by the UK government according to infection rates and vaccination programmes I specific countries.
Santos Silva also spoke of the digital vaccination certificates, which he expects “to be operational by the beginning of the summer”, and to the revision of the recommendation on travel outside the European Union (EU), which includes the United Kingdom, which will be done “in order to allow travel of all kinds - essential or non-essential - to countries whose pandemic situation is also better”.
“This is the case in the United Kingdom, which is currently in a very controlled pandemic situation, with a very advanced vaccination programme and with very low levels of new cases, in fact, close to the Portuguese,” he said.
That reassessment will be made at a forthcoming EU Council of Ministers, to take place in May, in which “sensible, cautious, prudent, but progressive opening decisions” will be taken, he added.
Regarding air corridors, Santos Silva stressed that, “at the moment, the biggest restrictions are for all countries inside or outside the EU that have a high number of new cases, 500 per 100,000”, which has been the threshold used “in European coordination”.
Meanwhile, Turismo de Portugal has also welcomed the UK’s decision to include the country on the “green list”.
“In this initial phase of the resumption of tourist activity at an international level, it is good news for national tourism, as it demonstrates confidence in the destination of Portugal,” Turismo de Portugal said in a statement.
The organisation highlighted that Portugal is one of the countries in Europe with the lowest incidence of covid-19, “having registered a favourable evolution in all indicators of pandemic control”.
For the president of Turismo de Portugal, Luís Araújo, “this is an important step in the recovery” of tourism and the national economy.
“Restoring mobility between countries is essential for us to be able to look to the future in a positive way, knowing that we are stronger and focused on our purpose of receiving tourists safely”, added the official.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, added that “this day marks the beginning of the reactivation of tourism, in the international context”.
“Portugal and the United Kingdom have always been partner countries, also in tourism, so it is with special satisfaction that we see the inclusion of Portugal as the first EU country in the UK’s green list. We will be ready to receive British tourists”, said the minister.
The United Kingdom is one of the main tourism markets for Portugal, with a 19 percent share in overnight stays from non-residents and generating more than 3.3 billion in revenue in years prior to the pandemic.
At the time of going to press, travel to Portugal was still subject to entry restrictions and only allowed if you are a returning resident, all other travel entry was still limited to essential purposes only with other restrictions in place.
The Portuguese government is expected to announce changes to travel restrictions imminently as the current State of calamity is in effect until 16 May.
Full details of travel restriction rules for Portugal can be found at https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal and are updated according to the latest news.
Originally from the UK, Daisy has been living and working in Portugal for more than 20 years. She has worked in PR, marketing and journalism, and has been the editor of The Portugal News since 2019. Jornalista 7920
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It appears Lisbon may be joining with Macron and Brussels to bash the UK by not opening to UK tourists anytime soon. For those of us who have invested so much emotionally and materially in Portugal, this is a wake up call. Portugal may not be the friend we thought she was
By Steve Taylor from Algarve on 14 May 2021, 05:44
I hope the Brits coming are those who voted to remain in the EU. A flood of Brits is most unappealing!
By Diana Krogh from Beiras on 14 May 2021, 05:49
Media is spreading teh wrong view of this matter.
That it will be open for UK citezens to travelto Portugal from 17 May.
But...
1) The decision refered to is fro England, not Uk (Scottland has also made a similar decison. But there is no UK decision)
2) Travel to Portugal is still subject to entry restrictions and only allowed if you are a returning resident, all other travel entry was still limited to essential purposes
Vacation is not essential purpose.
And this restriction is based on EU rules. Not Portugal rules. And I guess that Portugal is not going against EU decision. So the wohle case is far from set. It depends on EU decisions.
By Gustav from Algarve on 14 May 2021, 06:41
We are due to fly to Portugal next Friday 21st of May, we have been looking forward to this holiday for a long time and as a returning visitor to Portugal - mainland and Madeira - for many years, I am very much looking forward to introducing friends who I will be travelling with this time. It is so sad to think that so many Brits are ready to travel, all Covid safe checks and assurances are in place, and that so many hotels, restaurants, bars and other venues and services in Portugal are ready and waiting for us, yet all of this may be for nothing because of what does seem to be a peevish EU blanket decision.
By Angela from UK on 14 May 2021, 08:57
Is Portugal in control to make its own decisions? It seems to me that it is not. Everything appears to be controlled by their lords and masters in Brussels now. Even with Portugal having the presidency just now, as a independent country they are unable to make a decision to re open its borders to UK visitors. I can see that there will be a flood of UK people selling up their second homes in Portugal. This is TrueType a ‘state of calamity’!
By Geoffrey Ryder from UK on 14 May 2021, 10:03
Indian variant is here too and is the worst yet
Watch out
By James from Algarve on 14 May 2021, 10:54
This article is just not up to date. Portugal has not yet made a decision to allow the English to come to Portugal from 17 May and there is only speculation that they might make that decision before Sunday. The EU are due to discuss the matter next week and possibly allow travel from a future date. It looks like Portugal is not prepared to make its own decision.
This does not reflect well on the Portuguese Tourist minister who said that Portugal would be ready to receive tourists from the 17 May and thousand have booked holidays for next week. It is also so ironic that the Portuguese last summer were so offended when the UK government excluded Portugal from their travel list. Now the Portuguese are being given the chance to be about the only country in Europe that the English are being allowed to visit, they are not taking it.
By Les from UK on 14 May 2021, 11:32
The number of 'Indian varient' Covid cases in the UK has doubled in just one week. If we open our doors to tourism from the UK, we can expect the same. Is the money really worth it? I think it would be madness to let unvaccinated British tourists into Portugal.
By Kathleen M Gimblett from Other on 14 May 2021, 14:28
Diana Krogh - Says A Brit living in Portugal. You really are a nasty piece of work aren't you
By Pete Styper from UK on 22 May 2021, 16:28