Last modified on Fri 17 Jul 2020 10.58 EDT. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? And it appears Theoharis’s feeling is reciprocated: within 24 hours of the flight ban being lifted, around 1,200 Britons had landed in Greece. Do you need a face mask and where can you buy one? Greece’s national lockdown – which was put in place in March – brought its business and tourism sector to a virtual standstill as the country tackled the spread of coronavirus. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The easing of lockdown measures started in early May, with hair salons, sports shops and bookstores allowed to open as long as they follow strict hygiene and social distancing measures. “The result of the mass testing … will determine if Greek borders remain open or not to Britain,” the leading Greek daily, Protothema, wrote. There has been a significant rise in infections since Greece reopened its borders on 1 July – with officials reporting more than 500 cases, and hospital admissions rising from 41 to 83 in less than two weeks. Greece imposed a lockdown early in its coronavirus outbreak, a move which has been credited with keeping the number of infections down. Greeks were “very, very happy” that Britons were finally returning, Harry Theoharis said. Answer 1 of 16: It’s unfair on some social media sites to read Greece may stop UK tourists entering because of our high cases of Covid, rumours or is it likely to happen. The spectre of people arriving from a country with “so many cases and so many deaths”, in the words of Greek health officials, has stoked fears of “imported incidents” and unease on islands that had so far remained remarkably coronavirus-free. Local media reports suggest up to 6,000 visitors from the UK will be tested this week, with soldiers being deployed to specially assembled health units on islands to administer swabs. Their absence would cost €2.56bn for an industry that, at close to 25% of GDP, is the nation’s biggest. Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more! F or years many Greeks cringed at the summer descent of British tourists, concerned that their rowdy and unruly behaviour may be eclipsing … Brits warned over Greece travel as 100 tourists hit by coronavirus after country re-opens borders Greece is one of the most popular European holiday … In 2015, Greece attracted approximately 26.5 million tourists. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. Greece restarted regular ferry services from the mainland to its islands on Monday and cafes and restaurants were also back open for business as the country accelerated efforts to salvage its tourism season. Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, South Korea, China are on the list of 29 countries Greece will accept tourists from without blanket testing. “We always enjoy the company of our friends from the UK,” he told Sky News as air links resumed on Wednesday. Government looks to soften financial blow of Covid-19, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Britons are Greece’s most lucrative European market, with more than 3.5 million visiting last year. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? Greece is likely to ban Brits when it reopens for tourists due to our poor coronavirus record. Tourism and related industries make up around 20 per cent of the Greek economy, and the government has been anxious to ensure the tourist season is not lost this year. The last minute decision making is also making it virtually impossible for airlines to plan and for tourists to plan holidays. As a result, UK holidaymakers are having to undergo mass testing in airport lounges nationwide. With one in five Greeks reliant on tourism-related work, the sight of Britons signals a return to normality. - Greece's prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has urged the nation to brace for what he calls "a very difficult tourist period" ahead of the resumption of international flights to all destinations on Wednesday. UK tourism accounts for almost 25% of visitors to Greece and in some islands and regions, the percentage is even higher. The growing trend makes Greece one of the most visited countries not only in Europe but also in the world. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. However, some of the world’s worst-affected countries – including the UK, France, Italy and Spain – are not included on the list, which was drawn up based on a document from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It will be expanded on 1 July to include more countries, the tourism ministry said. The latest facts and figures. Air-corridors are underway and Greece is one of the countries on the list, however, UK tourists were still banned when the country opened up to other visitors on the 1st July. British tourists are 'UNLIKELY' to be allowed to return to Greece when it reopens in June due to UK's 'medical status', tourism minister admits Haris Theoharis said UK is … Travellers from Scotland are still permitted to travel to Greece, but will have to self isolate for two weeks upon their return. From 15 June, travellers from 29 countries – including Albania, Austria, North Macedonia, Switzerland, Estonia, Croatia and Cyprus – will be able to enter Greece on direct flights to Athens and to the northern city of Thessaloniki and will be randomly tested on arrival. With over 31 million tourists in 2019, three times its population, Greece has more than doubled its number of visitors in 10 years and billions have been invested in services and infrastructure. … “Today, we can’t wait to have them,” said Charalambos Varvarigos, the vice-mayor of Laganas, the Zakynthian resort often associated with youthful hedonism. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Reports are saying that tourists from Israel, with a 72-hour PCR test, are also permitted into Greece, however not ALL government websites reflect the information. Greece’s lockdown is lifting – here’s what you need to know about travel to Greece in 2020. Greece has extended its ban on flights from UK airports until July 15, it has been reported. This is a relatively low number compared with elsewhere in the European Union. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. , Norway, Finland, Japan and the Czech Republic a relatively low compared... 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