Greece Officially Opens Tourism Season 2021

Last Thursday, Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis introduced the government's plan for the safe opening of the tourism season set for Friday, May 14.

“It is a fact: We are reopening the Greek tourism industry and bringing Greece back to the European and world forefront as a destination equivalent to hospitality and safety,” Theoharis said.

Focusing on how Greece plans to welcome its visitors and make everyone safe from Covid-19, Theoharis introduced the main points of the government’s tourism restart plan that includes strict health protocols and procedures.

“These have been presented extensively but we are constantly improving individual details,” the minister said.

How can travelers enter Greece?

If you're planning to visit Greece, you must fill out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before traveling. Moreover, you must also have one of the following:

• a vaccination certificate
• a negative PCR test performed less than three days
• a certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus

Starting June 1, Greece will be technically ready to activate its “green pass” system.

Entry points

Travelers, with the required documents, can enter the country through all Greeces' international airports, and through the ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa, and Corfu.

The country will accept road travelers through three entry points in Northern Greece:

• the Promachonas and Ormeni border stations on a 24-hour basis
• the Evzoni border station starting 7am to 11pm.

More border points will open in the near future according to the minister.

No quarantine after arrival

Travelers from the following countries, with the required documentation, are allowed to enter Greece – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation are:

EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, Cuba, South Korea, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore and Thailand.

Extra safety measures

According to the minister, random covid-19 tests will be conducted at the entrance points through the country's EVA system. The EVA system is the country's AI screening and testing program created to vet the Covid-19 risk of incoming tourists. If a selected passenger undergoes a rapid test and turns out to be positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine.

Greece has established a number of quarantine hotels in 35 areas of the country. The quarantine hotels are prepared in case a passenger selected for a rapid test is positive for the virus.

Furthermore, all tourism-related businesses and services in the country will operate under updated health safety protocols.

The tourism Minister also added that the government is accelerating vaccinations throughout the country, for the protection of the general population.

Priority: the Greek islands

The "Blue Freedom plan” prioritizes all the islanders for the vaccinations of covid-19.

You can visit Greece's official website for more info.

SOURCE: Greek Travel Pages