Greek PM sees strong rebound in tourism this summer

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has forecast a strong rebound in tourism this summer. Speedy vaccination drives in key markets including Britain and Israel will pave the way for tourists to return despite the current industry gloom, he told news-agency Reuters on Thursday..

“I am a realist but I am also cautiously optimistic that we will do much better than last year,” Mitsotakis said.

Tourism, which accounts for about 20% of the Greek economy and employs one in five workers, collapsed last year as the coronavirus pandemic sent its revenues slumping to 4 billion euros ($4.8 billion) from 18 billion in 2019.

Since last summer, when the pandemic subsided across Europe, the virus has surged, triggering renewed lockdowns and travel restrictions and pushing the region’s death toll above 750,000.

“Last year we were at 20-25% of what we would have gotten in a regular year. If we were to get 50% of what a regular year would look like, it’s still going to be 100% better than last year,” Mitsotakis added.

Greece has created its own standard vaccination certificate and is pushing for a European Union-wide certification system, which could be electronic. There is still an EU debate on whether certificates should be required for cross-border travel.

Mitsotakis said certificates would not be mandatory for visitors this summer but he noted that Britain and Israel were leading the way in the speed of their vaccination rollouts.

“Essentially we are dependent on the pace of vaccination in our main markets,” he said.

“For example, Israel is a very important market for Greece and if 70% of the Israeli population is vaccinated by the end of March, it makes it easier to gradually start opening up to Israelis who have a real interest in travelling.”

According to Greek media, Mitsotakis plans bilateral agreements with UK and Israel for mutual recognition of ‘vaccination certificate.”

Greece has reiterated that travelers with vaccination pass would not need to remain in quarantine.