The decision to place Portugal on the green list, first announced on 7 May, was hailed by travel as the first true sign of their being some light on the horizon after 15 dark months for the industry.
Portugal was added to the green list 10 days later on 17 May when the government lifted its restrictions on non-essential international travel, prompting the first significant round of holiday departures of the year.
TTG’s special projects editor Madeleine Barber took one of the first flights out of the country on 17 May, heading to the Portuguese island of Madeira with Tui to become one of the first to experience a Covid-era break.
