Αssociated Press reports from Greece that the country officially opens to foreign arrivals Monday. Its hopes are pinned on prime destinations like the islands of Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete and Santorini, where regular ferry services have already resumed and direct international flights will start July 1.
Greece has gambled on a decision to relax COVID-19 health inspections at ports and airports to try to avoid another crippling recession, having only recently emerged from a painful financial crisis.
Timely and strictly enforced lockdown measures have so far kept the infection rate in Greece low and the death toll below 200.
But reopening means islands — many with only basic health facilities and previously sheltered from the outbreak on the Greek mainland — will again be receiving visitors from around the globe far in excess of the local population.
Greece’s gamble follows a decade of tourism growth and increasing reliance on the industry, with annual visitor numbers more than doubling from 2010 to 34 million last year and revenue up 80% to some 18 billion euros ($20.2 billion).
During many of those years, the country teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and exit from the eurozone, while Greeks endured harsh economic austerity in return for three international bailouts.
Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis, once Greece’s top official for tax and revenues, announced Friday that the country is determined to support its tourism industry.
“We’re sending a clear message to the world’s traveling public that we won’t take a step back, either in health safeguards or in opening up the country,” he said.
Read the full report at thenationalherald.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
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