In a statement the head of tourism highlights that golf courses, marinas and some hotels are already open and that special measures are in place at Faro airport.

João Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism said: “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 we have had much fewer cases than other European countries. Furthermore, the Algarve is one of the least affected regions in Portugal, and so we are now in a position to carefully plan a gradual reopening of its economic and social activity”.

Already, golf courses, marinas and car hire businesses are open with strict health protocols in place and over a third of hotels in the region are open with the tourism board expecting this to rise to 75 percent in June and most to be open in July.

The ATA maintains that beaches will open in June, with health regulations and procedures in place, that restaurants will open on 18 May with 50 percent capacity restrictions and that water parks will open in June and July.

João Fernandes says 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.”

With regards to other key attractions in the region Zoomarine will open in June, Slide & Splash mid-June and Aquashow water park in July. The parks capacity will however be reduced with compulsory use of masks in closed areas (restaurants, stores).

The tourism board highlights that those using Faro airport will find measures in place upon arriva which aim to ensure the protection of passengers and staff. These include temperature measurement at arrivals, hand sanitizers at all points of the terminals, signage and disclosure of the use of a mask at the terminal, warnings for the need for extra hygiene care and the need for physical distance; installation of personal protections in service counters (acrylic and glass), reinforcement of cleaning of spaces and equipment with hospital-level disinfectants and use of UV equipment, among other measures.

Fernandes said: “The priority now is to guarantee visitors, workers and residents in general that their safety is our first concern. In this sense, the Algarve is very well prepared, as attested by the rapid adhesion of companies to the “Clean & Safe” seal.

“From yesterday the Algarve a had had 271 hotels, 176 tourist entertainment companies and 177 travel agencies, duly certified by this initiative of Turismo de Portugal, who pioneered this worldwide. We are also finalising a Manual of Good Practices “Algarve Clean & Safe”, a document complementary to the seal and that gathers all the specific operating measures for the different tourist activities, in accordance with the rules of the General Directorate of Health and existing international guidelines, which should be presented at the end of this week. ”

The question of the reopening of borders and the resumption of air traffic is the main factor that still remains undefined and that prevents the return of tourist activity in full.

“This is an issue that obviously affects many countries, not just Algarve. All major European tourist destinations are keenly awaiting the EU guidelines on this matter. However, the Algarve has received some positive signs. Several international airlines and tour operators are showing great interest in restarting their operations for the region, some of which already have information on their websites and are taking holiday reservations” concluded Fernandes.