Travel activity had been restricted for several months due to the health measures imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19. Many travellers saw their plans derailed or postponed, especially those wanting to visit Europe. But as of today, July 1st, more borders continue to open and confinement rules are eased.
In a recent survey, Portugal was listed as the third top destination in bookings for this year’s summer holiday, only behind Spain and the US.
And when it comes to cities, Lisbon has risen to the top of the list of the most-booked European cities during the first half of June, compared to the ninth position it reached in 2019.
The positive note for the Portuguese tourism sector comes in contrast with the recent news stating that the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (AML) is now subject to more restrictive measures in an attempt to contain new Covid-19 cases.
A limit of a gathering of a maximum of 10 people has again been imposed unless they belong to the same family. “The access, circulation or permanence of people in spaces frequented by the public, as well as the concentrations of people on the public road,” the health authorities reported.
All retail and service establishments, as well as those in commercial units, are required to close by 8pm in the AML. The only exception is restaurants, which are meant to offer meals in the establishment itself, a take-away service or home delivery service.
“Whoever does not respect any of these four rules, the crime of disobedience will be determined. The person indicated will be immediately fined,” the authorities stated.
The Portuguese capital is the one that has the record closest to the average of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, which added 3,055 new cases in the period analyzed (68.8 percent of the total), which corresponds to about 107 per 100 thousand inhabitants, in a region with a population of around 2.8 million.
