Tourists may move between municipalities despite restrictions
Tourists are allowed to circulate between municipalities in Portugal, despite the restrictions that apply between October 30 and November 3.
Only tourists are allowed to circulate between municipalities in Portugal, despite the restrictions that apply between October 30 and November 3 to stop the contagion by the new coronavirus, said the AHRESP, citing a clarification from the government.
According to the clarification sent by the office of the secretary of state for tourism, Rita Marques, to the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similars of Portugal (AHRESP), the restrictions on movement between counties, in the period between 12 a.m. on October 30 and 6 a.m. on November 3, do not apply to foreign tourists or Portuguese citizens residing in the autonomous regions and outside Portugal for places such as tourist developments and short-term lets.
In a previous communiqué, AHRESP had pointed out that, in its understanding, the ban in question did not apply to accommodation reservations made previously.
In its reading of the diploma, AHRESP understands that the reservations previously made, both for Tourism Accommodation and family and corporate events, are accommodated in the part of the resolution that said that this restriction does not apply to movements of non-resident citizens to places of proven stay.
However, at the time, the association noted that it was going to ask for clarification from the ministry.
Earlier this week, the Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) called for the ban on travel between municipalities to exclude hotel reservations made before the measure was announced.
This measure was approved at the meeting of the cabinet meeting held on October 22, noting that the pandemic had caused immense disruption and cancellations in some hotel establishments, in the planned reservations of small groups, domestic and foreign.
Just over a week after the cabinet meeting announced the return of the state of public calamity due to the increase in cases of infection with the new coronavirus, on October 22 it approved a ban on travel between municipalities during the All Saints’ Day weekend, with similar measures to Easter.
