Holidaymakers scramble to leave Portugal to avoid quarantine

Tourists are scrambling to leave Portugal before new coronavirus quarantine rules come into force.

Travellers must arrive in the UK before 4am on Tuesday morning or they will be required to self-isolate at home for ten days after the holiday destination was placed on the amber travel list.

Last week the Scottish Government said the risk from the Delta variant was “too great” to allow unrestricted travel to the holiday destination.

A recommendation was made by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JCB) amidst concern over the variant being spread among people in Portugal with no travel history.

Tourists wanting to beat the deadline are now being hit by a combination of many flights being sold out, and the handful of available seats being sold at inflated prices.

Holidaymakers in the Algarve have also reported difficulties obtaining the pre-departure tests required for people arriving in the UK.

Many tourists and travel firms expressed anger when the announcement on Portugal was made last Thursday, as it came just 17 days after the ban on international leisure travel was lifted.

Following the decision, transport secretary Michael Matheson said international travel for holidaying purposes “remains risky”.

“Portugal is a popular destination for Scottish holiday makers and this change will clearly cause disruption to people’s travel plans,” said Matheson.

“However, we have been forthright from the outset that the traffic light system is designed to protect the safety of the people of Scotland and the continued progress we are making as we come out of lockdown.

“Using the stringent methodology of the Joint Biosecurity Centre it is clear the risk this new variant poses is now too great to allow unrestricted travel to Portugal, an approach that has been agreed by all four nations.

“International travel for holidaying purposes remains risky and subject to sudden change. We have said before people should think very carefully about travelling – and this latest development serves to underpin that advice – especially so given the prevalence and unpredictable nature of variants of concern.”