Scandinavians Keen on Visiting Greece with Covid-19 Test or Vaccination Certificate

“Scandinavians are eager to travel to Greece this year, either with a negative Covid-19 PCR test or a vaccination certificate,” the Director of the Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) office in Scandinavia Pavlos Mourmas said last week.

Speaking during the Greek Panorama Virtual Tourism Expo that took place on March 18, Mourmas said that over 700,000 people have been vaccinated in Scandinavia so far, while some 7 million have taken a Covid-19 test.

“It will be much easier for Scandinavians to travel to other countries this year, if governments [in these countries] decide to adopt a vaccination certificate,” Mourmas said.

Scandinavian tour operators also anticipate that a digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate would facilitate efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and restart international travel.

According to the Secretary General of the Association of Swedish Travel Agents and Tour Operators – SRF, Didrik von Seth, Sweden has committed to have a vaccination certificate system ready by June 1.

In addition, many destinations, including Greece, have announced that they will receive visitors this year, either with a negative PCR test or a vaccination certificate.

In this case, “more people will be able to travel without the requirement of a PCR test. And it will be a smoother way, logistics-wise, to travel to Greece this summer,” von Seth said during the Greek Panorama Virtual expo.

Scandinavian tour operators express optimism

GNTO Director Scandinavia Pavlos Mourmas

Meanwhile, Scandinavian tour operators are preparing for the summer season ahead and looking into sunny destinations such as Greece.

According to GNTO’s Pavlos Mourmas, in 2019 Greece received 963,000 visitors from the Scandinavian countries, distributed by eight major tour operators (not including TUI).

This year, the scheduled capacity of Scandinavian tour operators for Greece is at 860,000 seats, which is down by only 12 percent compared to 2019.

“This shows that there is great perspective for Greece and that tour operators feel more optimistic about the 2021 summer season compared to 2020,” Mourmas noted.

Broken down, seat capacity from Sweden to Greece is at 32,7 percent; from Denmark at 30 percent; from Norway at 22,5 percent and from Finland at 13 percent.

The island of Crete comes first in the preferences of Scandinavian travelers this year with a capacity of 343,000 seats. Rhodes is second with 206,000 seats and Preveza third with 71,000 seats.

Other preferred Greek destinations include Zakynthos, Skiathos, Santorini and Lemnos.

The Greek Panorama Virtual expo is organized by North Events and Travel Media Applications, and broadcast online from the studios of Podimatas SA.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a media partner of the Greek Panorama Virtual Expo.