Greece bans flights from UK till June 30, reopens tourism for others
Greece is about to “welcome the universe” as the Mediterranean region is reopening tourism from June 15. Even so, travellers on flights from the united kingdom will never be accepted until June 30.
“The ban [on passenger flights from] Great Britain remains set up” for another two weeks,” Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said in a televised presentation where health policies bolstering medical care on islands were formally unveiled.
Greek officials said your choice was based on the EU commission’s latest advice that travel restrictions in the bloc’s exterior borders be eliminated gradually and in “a good strictly coordinated” method. UK passenger flights are expected to get reinstated from July 1 onwards.
In a surprise approach that were motivated by Athens’ announcement that overseas flights to the Greek capital and Thessaloniki could resume from June 15, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, stated on June 11 that the EU was now advising that travel constraints on non-essential travel be prolonged until June 30.
The tourist-dependent country had previously declared that regular passenger flights to its two main airports could restart in a “bridge phase” from June 15-30. International atmosphere links would resume nationwide on July 1, 90 days after constraints were imposed to avoid the pass on of the novel virus.
“They were EU recommendations, we'd to go with them,” said a senior federal government source.
In order to contain the virus amid mounting concerns among Greek epidemiologists of the virus being imported, it had been also announced that passengers from Italy, Spain and holland would undergo tests upon arrival as the united states prepares for foreign visitors for the first time because the COVID-19 lockdown in March. Until June 30, vacationers from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will only be able to fly into Athens.
A recent spike in confirmed coronavirus conditions, referred to as “worrying” by infectious disease experts advising the government, has been attributed partly to travellers undergoing mandatory lab tests upon arrival.
“Our target is for Greece to remain a safe country looking towards the tourism season,” said Overall health Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
Greek authorities said arrivals who also test positive will have to quarantine for two weeks at a designated resort paid by the Greek state.
With fewer than 190 coronavirus deaths among 11 million citizens, the Mediterranean country is seeking to marketplace itself as a healthy holiday destination.
Tourism is a crucial part of the Greek overall economy, accounting for 20 % of its gross household product and an even larger proportion of itsjobs. UK vacationers, after Germans the country’s main market, spend a lot more than those from any additional nation.
Seasonal hotels are to reopen on June 15, fourteen days after all-year hotels returned to business. Hotel personnel will be subject to regular lab tests, as will guests.
On preferred islands “COVID-19 rooms” are also reserve to quarantine anyone assessment confident for the virus, and each hotel really needs a contracted physician in call.
In 2019, Greece published an archive year with over 34 million visitors, but operators say an authentic goal because of this season is merely a third of this number.
