The funding, led by the national tourism authority Turismo de Portugal, will support 12 projects located in low-density areas, with a direct tune of €4.5 million contributing to the overall investment. The initiative forms a part of a broader strategy to encourage travellers to explore inland destinations rather than concentrating on well-known hotspots such as Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.

According to the officials, the projects will focus on a wide range of tourism offerings, including rural accommodation, walking and cycling routes, cultural heritage sites, as well as food and wine experiences. The supported initiatives are spread across the North, Centre, Alentejo and Ribatejo regions. 

The selected projects are expected to highlight local culture and traditions while promoting sustainable tourism models. Areas of focus include nature-based activities, gastronomy, wellness tourism and cultural routes, all designed to showcase the distinct identity of Portugal’s interior regions.

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The initiative also seeks to strengthen regional development by creating economic opportunities in smaller communities that attract fewer visitors. The government hopes to support local businesses and ensure that tourism revenues benefit a wider cross-section of the population.

By diversifying the types of attractions available, the programme aims to appeal to visitors already travelling to Portugal and inspire them to extend their itineraries beyond the country’s main urban and coastal areas. 

Authorities have emphasised that the goal is not necessarily to increase overall tourist numbers, but to spread demand more evenly. This approach reflects growing concerns about overtourism in popular regions and the economic imbalance between coastal and inland communities.

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The funding will be distributed among a mix of public bodies, private companies and non-profit organisations, with selected projects targeting key tourism segments such as nature-based experiences, gastronomy, outdoor activities, wellness offerings and cultural and heritage attractions.

The contracts for the projects were signed at a ceremony in Porto attended by Portugal’s Minister for the Economy, Manuel Castro Almeida, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade and Services, Pedro Machado.

With rising tensions in the Middle East, Portugal is set to become a potential beneficiary of shifting global travel patterns. Travellers are increasingly opting for destinations less likely to be affected by airspace closures, with demand moving away from parts of the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean toward southern Europe. According to recent reports, countries such as Italy, Portugal and Spain are gaining attention due to their warm climates, well-developed tourism infrastructure and perceived safety and stability. A strategic analysis by IPDT – Tourism Intelligence suggests Portugal alone could attract around €500 million from the German market.

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Portugal’s tourism sector has experienced strong growth in recent years, becoming a key pillar of the national economy. However, the concentration of visitors in a limited number of destinations has prompted calls for a more balanced approach to tourism development.

With the €11 million initiative, Portugal joins a growing number of European countries attempting to redirect travel flows to less crowded regions, supporting sustainability and aiming to ease pressure on hotspots while boosting local economies in under-visited regions.

L’article Portugal invests €11 million to drive tourism growth in less-visited inland regions est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The three-and-a-half-hour trail covers only seven kilometres but is not short on drama, crossing Madeira’s Central Mountain Massif and taking in three of the island’s highest peaks: Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres, and Pico Ruivo. It starts as it means to go on, with a stunning viewpoint at Pico do Areeiro and the famous “Stairway to Heaven” section early in the hike, before tunnelling through volcanic rocks, threading along ridges, and revealing more vertiginous vistas among the clouds.

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The protected landscape of the Central Mountain Massif also offers chances to get up close and personal with the island’s biodiverse wildlife. It is a haven for nature lovers and bird spotters, with some avian species unique to Macaronesia and the Madeiran archipelago.

Vereda do Areeiro is not the only Madeiran trail to come with an access charge, but it is the costliest. All other routes are priced at €4.50, or a reduced levy of €3 if the reservation is made in advance. Residents of the Portuguese Atlantic island, as well as children under the age of twelve, can walk the trails for free, but must be registered to do so, using the mandatory Simplifica portal. The fees go towards the upkeep of the trails, visitor management, safety measures, and efforts to protect habitats and the environment.

@s.x.traveler Stairway to Heaven on the PR1 Hiking Route in Madeira, Portugal Within 25-30 minutes from the Pico to Arieiro trailhead, you’ll find yourself immersed in epic scenery. The trail narrows with steep drops on either side, adding to the thrill. Even if you can’t complete the full route, reaching this spot is a must for its breathtaking views. Especially I would recommend to visit this place during the evening golden hour before sunset Ready for a stroll through the clouds? Discover more incredible places and helpful travel tips in my Interactive Guide with a Map of Madeira Link in bio #MountainTrail #Madeira #ScenicViews #HikingAdventures #ExploreTheOutdoors #MountainLovers #OutdoorExploration #EpicJourney #GoOutdoors #HikingLife #VisitMadeira #Narrow #HikingTrail #stairwaytoheaven ♬ nowhere to go – MitroWave & angelcry

The reopening of Vereda do Areeiro comes with some fanfare, timed to coincide with the Madeira Island Ultra Trail on 25 and 26 April—an event sure to attract visitors who love hiking and outbound activities. The island has proved increasingly popular, breaking its own tourism records in the last two years, with 12.8 million overnight stays in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 8.4%, and achieving revenues of €893.7 million, up over 17%.

But with overtourism in the rest of Europe increasingly criticised, destination managers Visit Madeira say they are committed to looking after the island’s natural attractions by “investing in infrastructure, conservation programmes and community-focused tourism activities.” That includes a public campaign promoting environmental awareness under the mantra “Explore. Respect. Preserve.” The new hiking charges reflect that sustainability-focused approach.

L’article Madeira’s “Stairway to Heaven” three-peak hiking trail reopens after wildfire closure est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

While the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf are suffering from drone and missile threats that have grounded flights and halted cruise activity, for most European and many North African holidaymakers, Portugal, on southwest Europe’s Atlantic coast, is a short-haul destination that does not require overflying or rerouting around troubled areas.

The Middle East is estimated by the World Travel & Trade Council (WTTC) to be losing $600 million a day since the first US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026. Airlines are using alternative arrangements to “park” or “overnight” planes that are no longer serving Middle East routes, with Teruel Airport, an isolated former military airbase that usually operates no passenger traffic but serves as an aircraft maintenance and aircraft storage facility, reportedly welcoming dozens of Qatar Airways jets in mid-to-late March. It’s easy to redirect planes from here into the southwest of the region.

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Meanwhile, The Portugal News reports that the consumer response to such geopolitical instability has seen travellers too “shifting plans away from parts of the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean and toward southern Europe” with attention turning to Italy, Portugal, and Spain thanks to their “warm climates, established tourism infrastructure and, importantly, a perception of safety and political stability.”

Going further, the outlet says: “Portugal, in particular, has built a reputation over the past decade as a place that is not only desirable to visit but also easy to live in for longer periods.” The low cost of living in comparison to much of more central and northern Europe is a significant factor driving multi-night stays or longer-term trips, and even digital nomadism as people choose to live and work abroad, boosting visitor spend.

Portugal as a holiday destination is also well established, particularly in source markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands, and increasingly in recent years, the United States. Attending IHIF, the International Hospitality Investment Forum 2026, destination manager Turismo de Portugal noted that the country is “currently experiencing a historic moment” with tourism revenue hitting a “record €29.1 billion, driven by 32.5 million visitors and 82.1 million overnight stays.” Tourism now accounts for around 12% of national GDP and 48.6% of the country’s service exports, with Portugal ranking 5^th among European markets in terms of hotel investment volume.” That sense of familiarity is invaluable in uncertain times as travellers (and investors) tend to return to the comfort of what they know.

A strategic analysis by IPDT – Tourism Intelligence has found that Portugal could attract around €500 million from the German market alone, drawing visitors who might have chosen Egypt, for example, amounting to approximately 300,000 new guests and 2.4 million additional overnight stays.

However, notes of caution must be sounded. With overtourism and a cost-of-living crisis around housing and short-term rentals already provoking tensions in southern Europe and Spanish cities and resorts in particular, Portuguese authorities should ensure intelligent resource management and focus on attracting tourist footfall away from popular Lisbon and the Algarve into less-trodden central regions, IDPT said.

L’article Portugal could capture €500 million from German travellers as Middle East tensions reshape travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The European Commission’s unannounced assessment of Lisbon Airport in December 2025 (two months after the EES rollout began) found “serious deficiencies” in border security control. Those deficiencies had led to long queues for travellers at the hub, with some members of the travelling public reportedly waiting seven hours at Delgado. The situation eventually deemed so bad that the introduction of the EES had to be suspended for three months.

The crisis also saw the national Public Security Police (PSP) union complain to the Interior Ministry in November, saying security staff were “under constant pressure to make it easier for people to enter the country, contrary to what is often sold by the government, that there is proper surveillance,” said Paulo Santos, president of the police union ASPP. In January 2026, 24 National Republican Guards were drafted into the hub to help control crowds.

Now the newly available app aims to address some of these concerns and slash in-person security check times at the airport. It allows travellers to register their personal and travel information prior to arrival at the border, meaning some processing can happen up to 72-hours ahead of their border crossing, where travellers can then use a QR code to access their pre-registration at self-service border control kiosks (SSK), if available.

In short, using the app gives travellers the chance to enter personal and travel info in advance and complete an EU entry eligibility questionnaire, saving time at the entry point itself.

The app is available from major download platforms, such as the App Store and Google Play. While not mandatory, destination manager Visit Portugal has described it as “a tangible improvement in the experience of entering Europe, with direct benefits for travellers and for operational efficiency at the borders.”

While using the app is totally optional and does not replace standard border control procedures, authorities have emphasised in a statement that it allows some of the required information to be processed in advance, making the experience of entering Europe simpler and more efficient for both travellers and border control officials.

L’article Portugal trials European app to streamline border controls amid EES chaos est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

EasyJet will operate out of Luton twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Jet2 is adding a weekly Monday departure there too. As well as an 11% increase in London airport flights to 31 per week, Bournemouth will again be offering summer season routes with Jet2, departing on Mondays and connecting to Funchal in just 3 hours and 40 minutes. Also in the south, Bristol will offer an extra flight every week, taking its total to five.

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In addition to departures from the southwest and south coast, multiple weekly flights will go from cities across the UK, including Belfast, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle. At the height of the season, 55 flights to Madeira per week will be operated by a wide range of carriers, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, and TUI Airways, serving travellers of varied means.

A popular destination with hikers, Madeira also proposes a dynamic summer events calendar. The Flower Festival (from 30 April to 24 May) highlights the island’s floral traditions with exhibits and parades. First, the Flower Parade will happen twice this year, on Sunday, 3 and Sunday, 17 May.

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After that, the Atlantic Festival (between 5 and 28 June), marks its 20^th anniversary and hails the coming of summer in various parts of the island and in Porto Santo with Saturday evening fireworks, music and multimedia shows, circus acts, Summer Sunsets in the garden beside Praça do Povo, Regional Arts Week and the Funchal Lyons Club Bread Fair.

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The last weekend of July will bring classic cars, entertainment, and period-dressed extras to the Quinta Magnolia estate in Funchal for Classics at Magnolia (25-26 July). And the autumn begins with the Madeira Wine Festival (27 August to 13 September), welcoming the grape harvest in the capital’s streets and in vineyards and wine cellars across the island.

The increase in connectivity comes after a fall in the British market for overnight stays in Madeira of 1.2% in December 2025. An autonomous region of Portugal, Madeira’s other main markets were Germany (22.0% of the total; down 0.4% compared with December 2024) and Portugal (17.3%; up 10.9%). In fourth position, in terms of share, was the Polish market (7.7%; down 3.9%), followed by the Dutch market (3.6%; up a whopping 17.4%. Overall, the archipelago welcomed 12.8 million stays in tourist accommodation in 2025, according to official statistics. That’s a year-on-year increase of 8.4%.

L’article Madeira boosts UK flight connectivity for summer 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

While Portugal has always been a great destination for those who like to get a taste of authentic cuisine, over the last few years, the country has been transforming into a sought-after fine-dining hotspot.

This was once again proven during the yearly Michelin award show in Funchal, where no less than ten new restaurants were added to the Portuguese selection. Portugal now boasts 44 1-starred restaurants. According to the organisation, “Portuguese gastronomy is undergoing a remarkable transformation, rapidly ascending to new heights of excellence.”

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Ten new 1-starred restaurants

1. Alameda (Rui Sequeira, Faro)
2. A Cozinha do Paço (Afonso Dantas, Évora)
3. MAPA (David Jesus, Montemor-o-Novo)
4. Kappo (Tiago Penão, Cascais)
5. Largo do Paço (Francisco Quintas, Amarante)
6. dop (Rui Paula/ Sandro Teixeira, Porto)
7. Éon (Tiago Bonito, Porto)
8. Gastro by Elemento (Ricardo Dias Ferreira, Porto)
9. In Diferente (Angélica Salvador, Porto)
10. Schistó (Vítor Matos/Vítor Gomes, Peso da Régua)

“This progress is driven by a deep respect for local ingredients, celebrated for their authenticity and seasonality; a culinary identity that is becoming increasingly defined; and a generation of chefs committed to innovation while honouring Portugal’s rich culinary traditions. While many renowned establishments have upheld their standards and retained their Stars, the newly awarded restaurants deserve special recognition for their contributions to shaping the current gastronomic landscape”, Michelin writes.

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Other awards

Moreover, restaurant Fifty Seconds in Lisbon, masterfully directed by chef Rui Silvestre, managed to secure a second star, bringing the total within the category to nine. The name was derived from the number of seconds it takes to reach the restaurant situated at the top of the Vasco da Gama Tower by elevator.

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Next, two new restaurants were awarded with a Bib Gourmand distinction, highlighting their good value for money: Mesa15 (Petr Kiss, Leiria) and Taberna Sakra (Hugo China Ferreira, Alverca do Ribatejo). 1-starred newcomer A Cozinha do Paço also received a green star for its efforts in sustainability.

Finally, Francisco Quintas from Largo do Paço in Amarante won the Young Chef award, while the service-honouring Room award went to Adácio Ribeiro from Vila Foz in Porto. Carlos Monteiro from Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Leça da Palmeira received the Sommelier Award, and last but not least, the JNcQUOI Table restaurant by Filipe Carvalho in Lisbon was designated as the Opening of the Year, a first for Portugal.

L’article Portugal soars with 11 new Michelin-starred restaurants in 2026 guide est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada (CCIPD) has warned that the low cost carrier’s exit will have a “substantially significant” impact on tourism, regional GDP and employment, potentially wiping out a large share of the islands’ projected economic growth for 2026.

Up to 390,000 overnight stays at risk

As reported by Travel Tomorrow, Ryanair will cancel all six of its Azores routes from 29 March 2026, removing around 400,000 seats from the market. The airline cited high airport charges imposed by ANA, the Portuguese airport operator, as well as increased air traffic control fees and travel taxes.

Using data from 2023 to 2025 on seats offered and passenger loads on flights to Ponta Delgada and Terceira, the CCIPD’s research office developed two scenarios. Assuming that 60% to 70% of Ryanair passengers are tourists, the airline is estimated to carry between 102,886 and 118,561 visitors to the Azores each year.

With an average stay of 3.3 nights and an average spend of €1,036 per tourist, updated to 2025 prices, the Chamber calculates that Ryanair’s departure could lead to a loss of between 339,000 and 391,000 overnight stays annually.

This would translate into a direct economic impact of between €106.6 million and €122.8 million per year. When indirect and induced effects are included, based on macroeconomic multipliers from an EY Parthenon study on tourism in the Azores, the total impact rises to between €143.9 million and €165.8 million annually.

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Potential 1.7% hit to regional GDP

In terms of gross value added, the loss is estimated at between €79.9 million and €92.1 million. Given that tourism accounts for roughly 20% of the Azores’ GDP and that Ryanair represents an estimated 7.5% to 8.7% of total tourist overnight stays, the withdrawal could reduce regional GDP by approximately €90 million to €104.5 million per year.

That equates to a decline of between 1.5% and 1.7% of the GDP forecast for 2026.

“In practical terms, a significant part of the projected growth could be cancelled out by a structural reduction in air connectivity,” the CCIPD said in a statement, stressing that Ryanair has played a key role in improving accessibility, stimulating fare moderation and boosting direct international connections over the past decade.

Business leaders criticise negotiations

Local business representatives have voiced concern that other airlines will not be able to compensate for the loss of Ryanair’s capacity, despite assurances from the Regional Government.

Gualter Couto, President of the Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that each tourist spends on average €1,036 during their stay, underlining the scale of the potential loss. He also criticised what he described as a lack of professionalism in negotiations with the airline, arguing that a sector representing 20% of regional wealth and serving as the largest private employer must be managed with extreme care.

While flag carriers such as SATA and TAP may reinforce routes or introduce new services, Couto warned that they are unlikely to fully offset the withdrawal of a low-cost operator that has provided year-round competition and additional traffic.

Wider debate over airport fees

Ryanair has blamed what it calls “high airport fees” set by ANA and the Portuguese government for its decision, alongside increased air traffic control charges and the introduction of a €2 travel tax. The airline has also criticised the European Union’s Emissions Trading System, arguing that it disproportionately affects intra-European flights and remote regions such as the Azores.

From spring 2026, one of Europe’s most remote regions will lose direct low-fare connections to London, Brussels, Lisbon and Porto. Although Ponta Delgada airport will retain 22 routes operated by other carriers, analysts question whether these airlines can rapidly scale up to replace 400,000 annual seats.

For the Azores, the debate now centres not only on air fares and airport charges, but on the broader economic consequences of reduced connectivity for an island region heavily reliant on tourism.

L’article Ryanair’s departure could cost up to €165 million a year to the Azores economy est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Madeira is an archipelago of four islands in Macaronesia, 400km north of the Canary Islands, off the northwest coast of Africa. With a year-round warm, spring-like climate and rugged, volcanic hillsides covered in lush greenery and riddled with ingenious, walkable, manmade waterways called levadas, the main island attracts growing numbers of tourists every year, reaching above two million since 2023, and hitting a record 11.7 overnight stays in 2024.

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But now the cost of hiking—one of the island’s major tourist activities—is also rising. Access charges for some of the most popular trails were introduced in 2023 and were broadened to apply to all official routes in 2024. That general €3-fee has gone up by 50% to hit €4.50 in 2026, and the access price for Vereda do Areeiro, a three-peak hike that includes the iconic so-called “Stairway to Heaven” (a staircase carved into a steep ridge that appears to climb directly into the sky, especially during low cloud conditions) is now set at €10.50 to access, even though it is only partly open as it awaits recovery from wildfire damage.

There are ways to minimise the charges. Anyone aged 12 years and under does not have to pay. Moving to Madeira and becoming a local resident will also be exempt from paying, but a reservation will still be required. If changing residence is a step too far, reserving to do a hike with a local tour operator can enable visitors to avoid this year’s increase and keep the fee at 2025’s €3 level.

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Officials on the island have told the press they believe that the increasing maintenance costs and infrastructure developments justify the increased charges, while Rafaela Fernandes, Madeira’s regional secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, has said the fees will help fund work to safeguard the islands’ natural beauty and handle visitor numbers effectively.

At the end of 2025, the archipelago’s ongoing responsible tourism efforts were rewarded with a remarkable suite of wins at the World Travel Awards. Madeira was named the World’s Leading Island Destination for an extraordinary eleventh consecutive year, a decade plus of success that recognises an official long-term strategy focusing on quality, sustainability, and visitor experience.

L’article Madeira increases hiking access charges to fund sustainable tourism measures est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The situation at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, which was already under strain due to the introduction of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), deteriorated sharply in December, with some passengers reporting waits of up to seven hours. In response, the Portuguese government has reinforced staffing levels on the ground and temporarily suspended the new border-control system for non-EU travellers.

This followed months of complaints from travellers, as well as the establishment of an emergency task force at the end of October to manage the crisis. The EES became operational in Portugal on 12 October 2025, with additional biometric collection measures, including photographs and fingerprints, introduced on 10 December, further complicating processing at passport control.

Between 15 and 17 December, the European Commission carried out an unannounced assessment of Lisbon Airport and concluded that there were “serious deficiencies” in border security control. According to Portugal’s Diário de Notícias, the EU team highlighted flaws in the quality of border control and excessive waiting times. The assessment also warned that controls were being “simplified” without notifying the Commission, resulting in an “absence of exit controls” at Lisbon’s border crossing point.

Following the visit, the Portuguese authorities adopted urgent measures, beginning with the suspension of the EES for the next three months. In practice, this means reverting to manual checks for passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area, including passport checks and stamping.

“The decision to temporarily suspend the EES was taken under the relevant European regulations, given the worsening constraints in the ‘arrivals area’ of Lisbon airport with non-European passengers arriving from outside the Schengen Area,” the Ministry of Internal Administration said in a statement on 30 December. The statement added that the ministry had also decided to immediately reinforce the human resources operating at the airport by utilising the certified border control capacity of the National Republican Guard.

Lisbon Airport had already been reinforced with 80 Public Security Police (PSP) officers over the Christmas and New Year period.

On 12 January, 24 GNR members were stationed in the arrivals area, although it remains unclear how long they will stay. GNR spokesperson Carlos Catanário said that they would work “flexible shifts” in teams of ten plus a supervisor and that they had received additional administrative training from the PSP, the National Civil Aviation Authority, and ANA, the airport operator.

Portugal’s largest police union, the Association of Police Professionals (ASPP), had warned of the situation in a letter sent to the Interior Ministry in November. In mid-December, the interior minister acknowledged in parliament that the rollout had gone “very badly,” citing planning failures, staffing shortages, and space constraints at Humberto Delgado.

The airport continues to warn passengers on its website that “due to changes in border control, increased waiting times are expected” and advises travellers to arrive early.

Portugal is not the only European country facing EES-related delays. A review by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe said the EES had resulted in border control processing times at airports increasing by up to 70 per cent, with waiting times of up to three hours during peak periods, and stated that Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, and Spain had also been particularly badly affected.

L’article Portugal calls in National Guard as EU border checks overwhelm Lisbon airport est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For the first time since 2013, a national strike threatens to take place in Portugal. Whereas in 2013, people walked out as the country had to slash public spending in order to receive international aid, now, the labour law reforms planned by the Portuguese minority right-wing government are a cause for concern.

Portugal’s two main unions, CGTP and UGT, are calling people to take part in the strike as the reform would make it easier for employers to dismiss staff members, while lengthening fixed-term contracts and expanding the list of services required to remain operational during strikes. Public-sector employees, teachers, health workers, and transport staff alike are expected to take part.

The U.S. Mission in Portugal informs U.S. citizens that there will be a nationwide strike across Portugal on December 11. It is expected to cause widespread disruptions across the country. Travelers and residents may face delays or cancellations affecting transportation, public… pic.twitter.com/wSCmlqBDE5

— U.S. Embassy Lisbon (@USEmbPortugal) December 9, 2025

Travel sector heavily impacted

Airline cabin crew union SNPVAC is also calling for a strike, representing some 5,000 TAP crew members, alongside easyJet, Ryanair, and Azores Airlines personnel. At the time of writing, Portugal’s national carrier TAP has already started to cancel flights and inform passengers that their operations should be limited to minimum services.

“Due to the General Strike in Portugal, and to avoid constraints on our Customers’ journeys, TAP is cancelling flights on December 11^th. Thus, Customers are being contacted with an alternative, in case their flight is cancelled”, TAP said in a statement.

Some 18 flights are scheduled to go through, but the situation might still change. TAP passengers can move their flight to any moment between 8 and 14 December 2025 at no extra cost.

Other airlines will be hit as well, as half of Portugal’s entire workforce is scheduled to go on strike. Travellers are urged to contact their carrier or travel agent in order to stay updated regarding the situation.

Meanwhile, the country’s bus, metro, train, and tram network is also expected to be heavily disrupted during the strike. Those who are travelling within the country should therefore be aware of perturbations and are advised to stay at home or choose other means of transportation instead.

Portugal: Most flights to be grounded on 11 December amid nationwide strike; metros, buses and rail services also expected to be significantly affected

— Travel Watch (@BCDtravelwatch) December 9, 2025

Moreover, as hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums are likely to be impacted by the national strike as well, travellers might find it useful to think of other activities when spending time in Portugal on 11 December and to get in touch with their accommodation beforehand to ensure a smooth experience.

It is not the first time in 2025 for the Portuguese travel sector to be hit by strikes. Over the course of the Summer months, travellers were met with delays and cancellations as ground staff members went on strike over pay and later threatened with a new set of strikes stretching from early September until the start of 2026.

L’article National strike to hit travel sector across Portugal on 11 December est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.