End of compulsory negative covid test on arrival in country good for tourism

The president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal (Tourism of Porto and North Portugal) said on Monday that the end of the compulsory negative Covid-19 test on arrival in Portugal is a “strong contribution” for the sector to recover figures close to 2019.

“This is good news, we are now looking at 2022 more optimistically. We already thought that 2022 would indeed be the year of recovery, of course, this easing of restrictions is another strong contribution to believe that we will be able to return in 2022 to numbers very close to what we had in 2019,” said the president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal (TPNP), Luís Pedro Martins.

Speaking to Lusa, he stressed that the easing of restrictions, namely the end of the mandatory negative test for Covid-19 on arrival in Portugal, will contribute to the perception of safety and an increase in demand for the country as a tourist destination.

“The fact that we do not have compulsory testing will allow for a perception of greater security here and, in fact, perception generally rules,” he said.

On the other hand, he added, the easing of restrictions will allow for a return to activity with more “normality,” enabling tourism sector business owners to start “planning the high season that usually begins at Easter in a safer way,” and also contributing to a return to normality in the accommodation, catering, entertainment and tourism sectors.

“We face this future with optimism, especially for our companies, knowing that they have to work hard to recover in just one year what they lost in almost two years, but we are optimistic,” he concluded.

The requirement to test negative to the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter Portugal ended at midnight on Monday, and the presentation of a Covid-19 digital certificate or a recognised proof of vaccination is enough.

Following the decision taken by the Cabinet on Thursday and published on Sunday, the measure that had been in force since December 1 last year and which required all passengers arriving in Portugal by air to present a negative test or a recovery certificate has ended.

Now, to enter the country, “it will only be required to present the European Union’s covid Digital Certificate in its three forms or other proof of vaccination duly recognised,” according to the office of the Minister of the Presidency.

The Cabinet also approved changes regarding the covid digital certificate and adjustments to the proof of vaccination to be presented for access to certain establishments.

The digital certificate now requires that rapid antigen tests are performed within 24 hours, instead of 48 hours, and in the case of a nucleic acid amplification molecular test (TAAN), the deadline is 72 hours.

In relation to vaccination, the digital certificate will now certify that the primary vaccination series has been completed more than 14 days and less than 270 days since the last dose, with a vaccine, or the booster dose.

The rules regarding the recovery certificate remain unchanged.

Covid-19 has caused at least 5,737,468 deaths worldwide since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest balance of the agency France-Presse.

In Portugal, since March 2020, 20,258 people have died and 2,932,990 cases of infection have been counted, according to the latest update from the health authority.