The deserted beaches of the Algarve in Portugal, collateral damage from the Covid-19

Text by: Marie-Line Darcy

The Algarve in the south of Portugal lives mainly from tourism. But the tourists are not there, and in May unemployment increased by 200%. The season is very badly started.

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From our correspondent in Lisbon ,  

In the Algarve, the season begins in March. This coincided this year with the start of the epidemic. Nothing started, neither hotels and restaurants, nor attractions and leisure. The drop in activity in the sector is 90%. A clear sign of the Algarve's dependence on tourism. Each year, the region must request reinforcements in its hospitals. This year half less.

For the third consecutive month, the unemployment rate soared, and the month of May with this 200% increase compared to May 2019, breaks all records. In this month of June, almost deserted beaches and curtains of the shops lowered give the impression of being still in March, the heat in addition. The situation is so dramatic that some claim specific aid in the supplementary budget which must soon be approved by the deputies to support the economy of the country.

The Algarve is also banking on the reopening on July 1 of the border with Spain, a major supplier of summer vacationers. Another hope is the resumption of international flights by low-cost airlines. But the indicators remain in the red. And even if the nationals come to the coast this summer, the season promises to be very gloomy.

► Read also : Coronavirus in Portugal: Lisbon sees the pandemic resurface

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