Beaches on the Algarve are set to reopen on June 6 as part of Portugal’s ‘Clean & Safe’ campaign with hygiene protocols and procedures to protect tourists from Covid-19.
New safety measures and beach assistants will be deployed to help visitors with information.
The level of occupancy – low/medium/full – is to be indicated on colour coded signs.
The information will be updated in real time on an ‘Info Praia’ app available in English.
Holidaymakers will be expected to keep 1.5 m apart unless they are in the same household and parasols will be 3m apart.
Swimming, water sports and surfing will be permitted.
No quarantine requirements are currently in place on entry to mainland Portugal.
Portuguese tourism officials are in discussions with the UK government about the possibility of an ‘air bridge’ that would negate the need for British tourists to quarantine on their return from holiday.
Algarve Tourism president Joao Fernandes said: “With over 100 sandy beaches to choose from, and with some several kilometres in length, it will be easy for visitors to distance themselves from others, should they want to.
“This year 87 of our beaches have been given ‘Blue Flag’ accreditation, an award given annually based on criteria such as water quality, services and user safety.”
The Algarve has published a ‘Best Practices Guide’ for tourism companies as part of the national Clean & Safe measures.
As many as 1,900 companies in the Algarve have committed to implementing the procedures so they can use the ‘Clean & Safe’ stamp.
Fernandes added: “We hope this manual becomes a reference for everyone involved in tourism in Algarve. As the biggest tourist destination in the country, the health of our visitors is our first priority and we hope this guide will help to give them reassurance.”