The cost to Greek tourism due to the coronavirus crisis has been huge, however all the people who had their hearts set on a holiday to the beautiful country have also been left disappointed.
The Greek Tourism Ministry launched the “Greece From Home” platform to help counch surfers get a taste of the country’s beauties.
The new platform, developed with the cooperation of the National Greek Tourism Organisation Marketing Greece and Google, offers visitors the opportunity to “travel” to Greek cities and towns and enjoy Greek culture without leaving home.
“Greece stays home but doesn’t stay home,” Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis said.
“In addition to measures to protect public health, shield and restart the economy and rebuild Greek society, the government is also taking steps to strengthen the image of our country as a tourist destination in the framework of its overall strategic response to Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr Theocharis said.
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The minister also said that that it is particularly important that in these difficult times the public and private sectors cooperate and work hard in order to prepare for the next day.
Asked when the Greek tourism industry will return to normalcy, Mr Theocharis said that this is a prediction that nobody can make, just as nobody can know what the future picture in the markets for other countries will be at this time.
In an interview with Greek daily, Eleftheros Typos, Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos expressed the view that can become “a strong destination of security and mental health for the whole world”.
He said that the country’s “exemplary” reaction to the coronavirus crisis had helped in this regard.