Greek Minister Sets Mid-July Date for UK Open Travel
Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said Greece may be ready to welcome British travelers by mid-July, which is a realistic and feasible time frame for authorities to finalize the date.
Speaking on UK television, Theoharis said both Greece and the UK were working in this direction in order to ensure that the situation is under control and that UK travelers will be able to enjoy their holidays in Greece as they do every year and at the same time feel confident about their safety.
The Greek minister spoke on Sky News Tonight, hours before news came out that Greece was on a list of some 60 countries, travelers from which will not have to enter quarantine as of July 10.
Theoharis went on to add that Greek health experts were monitoring the epidemiological situation in the UK, particularly in view of rising coronavirus cases there, and that Greece had opened its borders implementing a government strategy which focused on testing, health protocols, and careful selection of countries based on effective Covid-19 management as well as reciprocity.
Theoharis underlined the importance of reciprocity with regard to quarantine-free travel for both Greek and UK citizens returning from Greece.
The UK is one of Greece’s top source markets and a favorite destination for British travelers, many of whom either have holiday homes in the country or return each year.
On Tuesday, Greece had issued an aviation directive (NOTAM) extending a previous suspension of all flights to and from the UK until July 15.
You really need to confirm that incoming UK flights will be allowed as of the 15th July….UK families are concerned and changing Greek Holiday plans for Holidays in Turkey & Spain.
Theoharis said he wanted tourists to feel confident about their safety in Greece. What about those of us who live here feeling confident about our safety when tourists arrive from UK?
What about those of us booked to fly on July 15th?? We are totally in the dark at moment…… PLEASE give us a definite date!
Quite agree Jules, we need some concrete information from the Greek Government, Tourism needs to start again.
Maybe if the UK Government stopped faffing around and had got the situation under control then you could have a definite date. The situation is not improving in the UK so do you not think that the safety and well-being of people in Greece is more important than your holiday? Clearly not. If all you have to worry about is whether your holiday will go ahead, then clearly you have not learnt anything during this terrible global crisis. Look at it from this perspective – if the UK had had only had over 3000+ cases would you want people from a country that is one of the worst in the world coming in just for the sake of their holidays? I don’t think so.
Maybe is not good enough