Newly imposed travel restrictions for the Lisbon Metropolitan Area are having an adverse effect on Algarve tourism businesses with the president of the Algarve hoteliers association (AHETA) seeing the new rules as being another nail in the Algarve tourism coffin.
Speaking to Lusa agency, Elidérico Viegas, the president of the Algarve Hotels and Touristic Enterprises Association (AHETA) considers that the restriction of circulation in and out of Lisbon during the weekend, “is another blow for the Algarve, a region that had high hopes that the national market will help to minimise losses being experienced in the international markets”.
“The restrictions somehow, whether you like it or not, always end up discouraging people who were thinking of spending the weekend in the Algarve”, said Elidérico Viegas.
The president of the main association of hoteliers and entrepreneurs in the Algarve believes that, according to the information he has, “many people are still deciding to spend the weekend” in the region.
“We have received many requests for information about whether, with reservations, people can leave the Lisbon region, similarly to what happened in previous situations. Right now, there is uncertainty as to whether people will be able to leave their places of residence”, he said.
Elidérico Viegas said that the increases in the number of Covid-19 infections and restrictions on the movement of people, "are not good news for the tourism sector and cause concern and consternation for hotel businesses".
“Hotel entrepreneurs, who are already facing the loss of the largest tourism market of the United Kingdom, are now also faced with internal limitations,” he said.
For Elidérico Viegas, the tourism sector “continues to exist in times of uncertainty, a difficult situation that no one connected to the sector wants to have”.

Today our street in Alvor is full of weekenders, mostly Lisbonites
By Terry from Algarve on 25 Jun 2021, 11:14
While I have sympathy with the hotel federations and loss of business, one has to recognise that the world is dealing with a KILLER! and especially the Delta variant which is significantly more virulent than others, to the extent that recipients of only 1 dose, so far, of the AZ vaccine are only 35% protected. This is the variant now prevalent in Lisbon. The Algarve has relatively less cases than population centres to the North & West BECAUSE these people are not SUPPOSED to travel. Yet the author appears to ignore this without consideration of the likely impact on us down here. Lisbonites, please obey the law and stay home, if that’s what the law requires?? Thank you
By Robbie Hubbard from Algarve on 25 Jun 2021, 20:54
Covid is a scam with a 97% survival rate. The Delta variant is not a variant at all, but the side affects of the Frankinflu vaccines. Fact!
By Daco from Algarve on 26 Jun 2021, 06:39
The tourism sectore has created this problem themselfs,
By opening for tourists from UK.
When Eu at the same time hade directive to not allow travelling from outside of EU.
Than Portugal arranged a Brittish foorball match. CL-final.
Why could they not stay and play in England?
And also advertised UK tourism.
If they had waited fro EU certicate from 1/7.
And limit tourism to Eu internal....
They would not be out of buisness.
But hunger for fast profit killed themselves
By Gustav from Algarve on 26 Jun 2021, 17:36
Survival rate of COVID is not 97%, it is at-least 99.98%
By Kari Lehto from Other on 27 Jun 2021, 10:23