Portugal moves to amber on international travel traffic-light list

Travellers returning to Wales from Portugal will need to self-isolate on their return after the Welsh Government confirmed the popular holiday destination will be moving to the amber list from 04:00hrs on Tuesday 8 June.

The decision to move Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) to the amber list is to safeguard public health amid increased concern about the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta (Indian) variant. 

Seven other countries – including Sri Lanka and Egypt Afghanistan, Sudan, Bahrain, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica – have also been added to the red list with effect from the same day.

Health Minister, Eluned Morgan said: “Our message is clear – this is the year to holiday at home.

“We’re calling on people to only travel overseas for essential reasons. We have all sacrificed so much to control the pandemic in Wales, we do not want to see the virus re-imported – or new variants come into the country – as a result of overseas travel.”

However there are concerns from industry experts about the last minute change and how it affects holiday-makers who have already booked travel to Portugal.

Rory Boland, Travel Editor for consumer organisation Which?, said: “Many people who booked holidays to Portugal believing it would be a safe bet are going to now face difficult decisions over whether to travel against government advice and quarantine on their return, or potentially lose the cost of their holiday. Few tour operators and no airlines allow for refunds when a country changes from green to amber, and rebooking very often involves paying more money.

“The government should take greater responsibility for making sure travellers are not left out of pocket when changes are made to its travel lists. A crucial step towards this would be to ensure destinations on the amber and red lists also come with a warning against travel from the FCDO, which should trigger package holiday providers to offer refunds to those who can no longer travel.”

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED…

Tourism

Farming union opposes Welsh Government holiday let licensing scheme

21st March 202321st March 2023

Porthcawl

Porthcawl Miniature Railway Association in fundraising plea for ‘once in a generation opportunity’ to save piece of town’s history

8th March 20238th March 2023

Books & Literature

Travelodge reveals books left behind in Wales

1st March 20231st March 2023

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED…

Tourism

Change of heart as almost 20% of UK travellers stay closer to home

3rd February 20233rd February 2023

Health

Nip-tuck holidays could cost Brits more than they bargained for warns insurer

21st January 202321st January 2023

Swansea

Swansea now third busiest train station in Wales – but overall ridership down on pre-pandemic levels

24th November 202224th November 2022