Greece succeeded in remaining a safe country for its citizens during the pandemic, Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, said on Monday. “We also want it to remain safe for tourists – our guests, whom we hope to welcome back to enjoy Greece’s beautiful summer again this year,” he added.
In a statement to the German agency Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), which is being republished on Monday by the most important German media outlets and newspapers, Dendias said that Greece has managed to successfully deal with the pandemic.
“Greece has managed to successfully deal with the pandemic crisis through a collective effort, based on swift action and using the suggestions of the scientific community as a compass,” Dendias noted.
He added “now that our efforts are bearing fruit – and always guided by the protection of public health – we are able to proceed, step by step, to open up not only our economy, but also Greek tourism.”
He underlined that “the Greek authorities, with special care, are working on the relevant travel and health protocols and we hope that we will soon be able to safely welcome visitors to our country again.”
“Greece is gradually coming out of the pandemic crisis, returning to normalcy. Travel within the country is allowed, our hotels are preparing to open, our beaches are accessible again, and archaeological sites are being reopened to the public,” he said.
Greece succeeded in remaining a safe country for its citizens during the pandemic. We also want it to remain safe for tourists – our guests, whom we hope to welcome back to enjoy Greece’s beautiful summer again this year.
Also on Monday, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Austria and Slovenia have met today, 18 May 2020, by means of video-conference to discuss a coordinated approach towards restoring the EU freedom of movement and travelling in the EU.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers said that their goal “is to restore free movement for all citizens, be it for professional, educational or merely private purposes, based on the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.”
“Against the backdrop of the current Corona pandemic, however, Europe needs to ensure even more than that: the freedom of travelling safely within the EU!, the ministers said among others.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said last week that the country will welcome foreign tourists as of July 1. He is expected to announce the thorough tourism package upcoming Wednesday or Thursday, May 20 or 21.
However, opening Greece’s borders to foreign tourists depends on more factors than the country’s good will and preparation of health protocols. It requires that cooperation of airlines and that other countries will open their own borders for their citizens to travel abroad without needing to be placed under 14-day quarantine upon their return.
