Greece’s tourism will open up from specific countries on 15 June, however the country will focus on the country of origin on passengers rather than their nationality.
Greece’s Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis told the Athens Macedonian News Agency on Sunday that guidelines have been set which included the acceptance of tourists from specific airports.
“Tourists originating from airports listed on the EU Aviation Safety Agency lists are obliged to be tested once they land in Greece and remain at a designated hotel for one day,” he said. Once results are completed “visitors will then be obliged to observe a 7-day quarantine (for negative results). For positive tests, they will remain in a 14-day quarantine with their health monitored.
“Greece is opening its doors in a planned way, safely, and following the agreement of doctors at all times,” Mr Theoharis said. “We are moving within the medical framework and applying scientists’ directives to the letter, fully agreeing with international directives to protect every tourist’s and Greek citizen’s health.”
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Detailed health protocols to be followed by lodgings in Greece were made public a week ago when they were published in the Government Gazette.
Facilities are expected to adapt their practices to the coronavirus-related restrictions that include visitor and staff protection and responsibilities, and details on how to provide services.
Year-round hotels are allowed to reopen on Monday, 1 June, while seasonal hotels will reopen on 15 June to foreign visitors.
Greece will accept visitors from Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, and Finland.
The protocols, a joint decision by the Ministries of Finance, Health and Tourism, call for the use of a certification sticker with the logo “Health First”, which tourist facilities are obliged to put up this year at visible parts of the reception area.
For non-hotel facilities such as campsites and inns, the sticker will be provided by the Ministry of Tourist following an online application by the owners.
