The Greek Tourism Ministry announced on Thursday the closure of hotels operating all around the year. The measure aims to protect the staff from the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry said in a statement.
The decision is effective as of midnight March 22 to March 23 and until the end of April 2020.
The only exceptions are:
- one hotel per capital in each Regional Unit
- three hotels in Athens
- three in Thessaloniki
In a letter to the ministry the Association of Hoteliers in Athens-Attica and Argosaronic expressed the need for the immediate establishment of a special “temporary” or “emergency” status.
This framework will make it clear how the hoteliers, their responsibilities and obligations to the hotel, the visitors and the employees will be managed from now on, the Association said.
“At the moment, however, we need the unequivocal support of the State against the total disaster that has occurred, turning Athens from one night to the next into a ghost city,” the Association pointed out.
Hardly any tourist was seen around in Athens on Thursday. With cafes, bars and restaurants closed, archaeological sites and museums shut down and the fear of the pandemic may have drove visitors away.
On March 15, Greece suspended the operation of main and non-main seasonal touristic accommodation facilities from 15. March 2020 until 30. April 2020 as preventive measure for reasons of public health. The decision affected resort hotels.
In addition to imposing 14-day quarantine to travelers coming from abroad, Greece is expected to announce today, also the suspension of all international passengers flights to/from Greece as of Sunday, March 22.
Greece has, so far, 464 confirmed cases and 6 deaths.
