UK tourists in Algarve react to amber list decision

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(4 Jun 2021) Holidaymakers from the UK were on Friday reacting to news that Britain plans to remove Portugal from its list of COVID-safe travel destinations, meaning thousands of UK residents currently on vacation there face the prospect of a 10 day quarantine on return.
Local business owners were also distressed with the news as they were expecting the tourism sector to regain momentum after months of closure.
"It's like a punch in the stomach," said restaurant owner Carlos Mourao.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Thursday that the "difficult decision" was prompted by rising infection rates in Portugal and worries about new mutations of the coronavirus that could prove resistant to vaccines.
He said a mutation of the delta variant first identified in India was causing particular concern.
The change will take effect at 4 a.m. (0300GMT) on Tuesday.
Territories including Iceland, Israel and the Falkland Islands remain on the U.K. green list.
Portugal is a major destination for sun-seeking Britons, and was the only large tourism destination on the U.K. government's "green list," announced last month, of places that can be visited without the need to self-isolate on return.
Tourism, by mainly British visitors, is a mainstay of the southern European country's economy, accounting for around 15% of annual gross domestic product.
Portugal's foreign ministry says it "can't understand the logic" behind the British decision.
"Portugal is continuing its easing of its lockdown, prudently and gradually, with clear rules for the safety of those who reside here or visit us," it said in a tweet.
The travel industry reacted with dismay to the UK announcement.

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