Seasonal Hotels in Greece Open as Flights Resume

Seasonal hotels in Greece opened their doors to travelers on Monday, as international flights to Athens and Thessaloniki resumed months after the Covid-19 outbreak.

Seasonal hotels reopened with mandatory health and safety protocols in place aimed at reducing the risk of coronavirus transmission to employees and customers.

“We want Greece to be the safest tourist destination in Europe,” said Government Spokesman Stelios Petsas earlier today, adding that “everything was ready and in place”.

At the same time, Greece’s museums also re-opened to the public on Monday.

Seasonal hotels across Greece have returned to business as have recreation parks, spas and thermal springs as well as gyms under strict safety protocols, Petsas told reporters.

Flights, Covid-19 testing

As clarified by Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis on Monday, by air Greece is mainly opening up to all of Europe and maintaining the ban on travelers coming from non-European Union countries except Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Currently, flights to Greece are only through Athens and Thessaloniki airports.

All implemented protocols are based on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) affected area list and relevant directives.

Arrivals to Athens and Thessaloniki from airports not on the EASA affected area list will be subject to random Covid-19 tests and arrivals from airports on the EASA affected area list will be subject to (mandatory) testing, tourism authorities said.

In both cases, according to the minister, tested travelers must stay overnight in Athens or Thessaloniki.

“Ιf the test is negative, they continue to their destination,” the minister said.

It is noted that these rules concern the June 15-30 period. For travel to Greece after July 1, press here.

At the same time, Greece reopened its borders with Bulgaria one hour earlier on Monday due to increased inbound traffic allowing admission to incoming travelers through the border posts of Xanthi and Serres. It should be noted that health units are based at all border points throughout the country.

UPDATE
According to a NOTAM issued late Monday by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, and until further notice, all passengers arriving at Thessaloniki Airport will undergo Covid-19 tests.

* Please note: Restrictions, testing requirements, and mandatory quarantine measures are reported and updated based on official information provided to GTP Headlines by health and government authorities, and are subject to change depending on how successful Covid-19 management/infection rates reported at airports of origin and according to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines.