Greek Hotel Restaurants Ordered to Close on Christmas, New Year Eve

As a precaution, Greek authorities have ordered all hotels to close their restaurants during the holidays in an effort to avoid the possibility of crowding and the spread of Covid-19 on Christmas and New Year’s eve.

Alternate Development Minister Nikos Papathanasis confirmed that the government would be ordering the closure of hotel restaurants, a decision announced earlier by the General Secretariat for Trade and Consumer Protection.

According to the secretariat’s announcement, hotel restaurants will be closed on December 24, 25 and 31 as well as on January 1, 2021, with the option for room service only for hotel guests.

A relevant ministerial decision will be released shortly.

The decision sparked the angered reaction of the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX), which said that “hotels not allowed to accept customers cannot remain open”.

In its statement, POX stressed that all hotel restaurants were operating legally only serving guests under specific terms and conditions which are strictly adhered to.

POX went on to add that restaurants cannot close as long as hotels are open because customers staying there must be served.

It is reminded that current Covid-19 restrictions in Greece allow a limit of nine people per two-family gathering on Christmas and New Year’s eve with a 10pm-5am curfew in place.