Following months of limitations to avoid the spread of Covid-19, Portugal will be available to visitors from virtually all European nations beginning Monday, according to the interior ministry.

The vacation destination intends to kick-start a tourist revival after the epidemic halted one of the country's most important sectors.

Travelers from the majority of EU nations, the Schengen Area of 26 nations, and the United Kingdom may take “all kinds of journeys to Portugal, also including non-essential visits,” the ministry said in a report on Saturday.

Traveling from nations with coronavirus rates of more than 500 cases per 100,000 population in the previous 14 days will be prohibited to essential journeys only, as is presently the affecting scenario in Cyprus, Croatia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

The ministry highlighted that non-European nations such as Brazil, India, and South Africa continue to face constraints.

“We are not extending tourism to the whole world.  Third (non-EU) countries continue to face restrictions, according to a ministry spokesman.

As per the guidelines, all travelers above the age of two who are traveling to the country should provide a negative PCR Covid-19 test done within 72 hours of boarding.

Airlines that let the passengers fly without undergoing the test will pay fines ranging from 500 euros ($610) to 2,000 euros per passenger.

The declaration came a day after Lisbon relaxed limitations on Britain, one of Portugal's most major tourism suppliers, which provided almost two million tourists to the country before Covid-19 occurred.

During the winter, Portugal experienced one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus, with more cases reported per capita than any other country for several weeks.

Anti-virus efforts seemed to have paid off, and the country began progressively relaxing limitations on May 1 with no increase in instances thus far.

Portugal, along with the United Kingdom, now showcases one of Europe's lowest virus rates.

London has already included Portugal on its "green list" of 12 nations to which its inhabitants are permitted to go and return without even being quarantined.

“The only European Union country in that category is Portugal,” tourism minister Rita Mendes told AFP.

She went on to say that “due to the proximity of the two nations, it is critical to emphasize that industry.”

Jacqueline Steadman, a travel agent, intended to travel to Faro, the main town in the southern Algarve area and a major tourist destination, to prepare for another meeting with customers.

“I believe there would be a large number of tourists in the Algarve next week,” she told AFP.

Thousands of British football supporters are also expected to fly to Porto in northern Portugal to see Manchester City play Chelsea in the Champions League final.

This type of activity is critical to the country's economic rebound following a dismal year for the industry in 2020.

Tourism contributed 6.3 % of Portuguese GDP last year, down from 11.8 % the last year.

Greece officially opened to tourists on Saturday, beginning off a summer season that seeks to restore the country's key tourist economy, which has been devastated by the coronavirus outbreak.

Greece also reopened its museums and famous archaeological sites, including the ancient Acropolis, this week after months of closures.

“I feel incredibly lively and wonderful because this has been a hard and lengthy year due to COVID,” said Victoria Sanchez, a 22-year-old Czech Republic student on vacation.

“I feel alive once more,” she said as she wandered around downtown Athens near the Roman Agora. Foreign visitors will be permitted to enter Greece as of Saturday if they've been immunized or have negative COVID-19 test results. Those with negative tests or vaccines would be free to travel across areas, including to the islands.

Greece has started giving vaccinations to its islands, intending to immunize the majority of them by the end of June. Visitors may travel securely, according to the authorities, because of immunizations and prompt testing, and warmer weather that permits outdoor activities. As the pandemic halted foreign travel in 2020, Greece saw its disastrous tourist year on record, with 7 million tourists contrasted to a record 33 million in 2019.