Portugal holiday bookings go ‘through the roof’—as the country is added to green list for travel

Yesterday the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps released details on where UK travellers can holiday from May 17th—and Portugal is on the list.

The country is one of few European destinations we can travel to, so of course holidaymakers have rushed to book their holidays—with travel company Thomas Cook revealing that bookings have 'gone through the roof'.

The country has been added to the green list, meaning you can travel there and back without having to quarantine. Other destinations including Australia, Gibraltar, Singapore and Israel are also on the list.

UK holidaymakers desperate to see some sun this summer have used the announcement of the green list to start booking their holidays—with Thomas Cook claiming that searches for holidays to the sunny destination have risen to 264 per cent - with more bookings in an hour than in the whole of April. 

Another green list country includes Gibraltar—with enquiries for the destination rising by 277 per cent. The government have released a traffic light system for travel - with green meaning we're allowed to travel to the countries, without quarantine. 

Amber indicates we can still travel to the country, but we have to quarantine for 10 days on our return. While red indicates countries, such as Turkey and Dubai, that they are advising UK travellers shouldn't travel to.

However, even if you're travelling to a 'green' country you will still need to take a test prior to travel, and have a negative outcome.

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Some travel companies are annoyed that more European destinations haven't been added to the green list, with both EasyJet and British airways criticizing the decision by the government. 

EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said, "The decision to put so few European countries into the green tier is simply not justified by the data or the science and is inconsistent with the approach to reopen the domestic economy."

British Airways boss Sean Doyle also said in order "to restart the economy, support devastated industries and reunite loved ones" the UK needs to open more travel links, especially to popular locations such as the US.