Greece will Welcome Visitors with Heightened Safety Measures, PM tells ‘Bild’

Greece is augmenting safety and health measures as it prepares to open to travelers next month after lifting coronavirus (Covid-19) containment measures with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inviting holidaymakers to visit.

Speaking to German daily Bild, Mitsotakis said Greece would be opening up initially to countries with similar epidemiological data. Among other measures the PM said visitors will be able through an application to get real time information and guidelines with regard to Covid-19 developments and to find out where the nearest health facility is located.

 He added that tourists will also have immediate access to testing on all Greek islands and that should the need arise there will be emergency services on call for transport to Athens.

“We are therefore carefully monitoring the situation to ensure that we have organized our health services in such a way that both visitors and residents feel safe,” he told Bild.

Greece has said that it will be opening up to travelers in two stages: on June 15 and July 1.

Meanwhile, in relevant news, Greece is expected to announce the list of nationalities that will be able to enter the country as of June 15. Among these is Germany, Mitsotakis told Bild on Tuesday, traditionally one of Greece’s key source markets.

“German tourists will be welcome in Greece from July 1 in terms of direct flights to the islands and from June 15 if they want to visit Athens,” he said.

The Greek prime minister stressed that ensuring the feeling of safety among locals and visitors was of primary importance at this time.

“Essentially, summer life in Greece is outdoors. So, we want to limit as much as possible any indoor activities.”

Lastly referring to the proposal tabled by Germany and France for the creation of an EU recovery fund to support member states in the aftermath of Covid-19, Mitsotakis said it was an “ambitious proposal, which is a very important first step in demonstrating European solidarity during a crisis that has impacted us all”.