(TAN): British tourists might be able to holiday in Greece without facing any quarantine rules starting June 1, reports said.
The southeastern European nation reportedly started lifting lockdown restrictions after it managed to keep COVID-19 deaths comparatively low by imposing strict and early measures. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Greece, a country of reportedly 10.72 million, has so far reported 2,760 cases of infection and 155 deaths.
With the crucial summer months for tourism ahead, the country’s Interior Ministry said the sector could gradually resume functioning in three stages, as per reports. The first stage recently began with owners of tourism-related businesses being permitted to return to their properties for preparing to host incoming tourists, reports said. In the second stage, which is expected to start on May 18, tourism employees will reportedly be allowed to travel there.
Greece said it hopes to give an affirmative nod to starting city hotel operations from June 1, followed by the opening of seasonal hotels a month later, as per reports. Greece had recently said it could open the country to international visitors in July, reports said.
Greece’s Tourism Minister, Harry Theoharis reportedly said they were willing to open up economic activities as soon as possible.
“We will first see domestic tourism, then tourists from neighbouring countries, and then middle-distance countries and long-distance ones. Travelling by road will be safer initially than flying and we’ll see that kind of tourists earlier,” he was quoted by The Mirror as saying.
Although British tourists will not be required to practise isolation while holidaying in Greece, they will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days upon their return to the United Kingdom, reports said. Four million British citizens reportedly visited Greece in 2019.
Meanwhile, Greece is proposing the European Union (EU) to lift restrictions on travel between EU member-states until June 15, wherever that is possible, reports said. The country has also requested the EU to grant its proposal for a COVID-19 test to be implemented across the EU that travellers have to take in the country of origin before embarking on their journeys, according to reports.
Greece’s government is reportedly in talks with other European Union leaders to decide on common guidelines to follow for travelling. Theoharis reportedly said they are planning to not just observe precautions prior to travel but also during it.
“Of course, we will take precautions in terms of the requirements before travelling. But also in the way that we travel. Social distancing rules will apply but we want to continue showing the kind of hospitality we’re known for,” he was quoted by The Sun as saying.
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