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Greece Looking to Open to Travelers from the United States

The US is among the third-country markets which Greece is looking to launch travel agreements with

The United States is one of the markets that Greece is eyeing to form a travel arrangement that will open up tourism between the two countries this year.

The US is considered a key third-country market for Greek tourism. In 2019, travel from the US reached about 1.18 million visitors and travel receipts from Americans were at some 1.2 billion euros. In 2020, US arrivals to Greece dropped 91 percent as travel came to a halt due to restrictions and border closures due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Speaking recently to Greek daily Kathimerini, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said that before Easter, he plans to visit the US with a view to re-establish air links between the two countries.

The minister said his agenda will include meetings with representatives of major airline companies that operate intercontinental routes.

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis

The US is among the third-country markets which Greece is looking to launch an agreement with in order to welcome more tourists without restriction when the country officially re-opens for tourism next month.

A deal has already been made with Israel that sees vaccinated Israelis entering Greece without having to quarantine. Similar deals are being discussed with Russia and the UK.

“We are in contact with the US Embassy for the recognition of the CDC-issued vaccination certificates of the United States,” Theoharis told Kathimerini.

Greece opens for tourism on May 14

Greece will officially open its gates to tourists on May 14. The tourism ministry’s road map for the opening of Greek tourism this year includes travelers entering only with a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test result. Random Covid-19 tests will also be conducted at Greece’s entrance points through the EVA system. The government has also announced that it would be putting the vaccination of tourism workers as a priority, while all of the sector’s enterprises will follow strict health protocols.

Travel got easier for Americans

Photo source: TSA

It should be noted that travel for Americans has gotten easier as, according to new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US citizens that have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 do not need to quarantine after domestic or international travel. All air passengers coming back to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States. The CDC also recommends that travelers get tested for coronavirus three to five days after arriving back in the United States.

With regard to digital vaccination certificates, the US government has announced that it would not be providing them at the federal level but is keen on working with private companies to help set standards for how such certificates could be used fairly.

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  1. Vanessa Papazian Reply

    Will you please keep us posted in the US, the information is very confusing at the moment. Specific requirements to travel I understand our son 14 yr old will need a negative PCR but my husband and myself, we are vaccinated but US federal government doesn’t want to create a vaccines passport… it would be so much easier for everyone vaccinated and the country we would be entering. Another question I have is the PCR has to be 72 prior to board my first flight or at the moment of entering Greece? We have a 18 hr flight with layover in Paris, also need to show PCR in CDG…
    Thank you

  2. Andres M Reply

    As a property investor, I have been visiting Greece for the past 6 years, making substantial investments in the country and stimulating the local economy. It’s long overdue that fully vaccinated Americans be permitted to return to Greece based on their vaccination status, NOT nationality. The virus doesn’t care about your citizenship.

    • Tricia Toole Jusino Reply

      Hi I saw your comment about being a property investor in Greece. I too, since volunteering for the 2004 Olympics, have been traveling many times to Greece. Do you have any properties to rent there? I’m always looking.
      Tricia Toole Jusino (Facebook)

  3. Mar Imar Reply

    Does this mean that Schengen visas will open?

  4. Charles Zammit Reply

    Would Greece opens also to European cities namely Malta

  5. Dimitrios Beis Reply

    Now put up some money & special offers to promote travel of
    Canadians (year round not just seasonal) to Greece

  6. Debbie Reply

    Fully vaccinated and booked for Sept. Not sure why the feds won’t do a vaccine cert? I want one! I do have my cert from the county we both have received both jabs. Hoping everyone gets it together by next month

  7. Bob Fotoples Reply

    I’m booked for travel to Athens at the end of September staying with fully vaccinated family in the village and in Athens. Can’t wait!

  8. Elizabeth Hall Reply

    Ditto from us. Last summer was a bummer. Both double vaccinated, we miss Greece.

  9. Deepak Reply

    Would also love to vacation in Greece this summer but as a UK citizen living in London, the government here is not sure about introducing vaccine passports to make travel easier. I’ve had my 2-shot vaccine but the only proof of that are the 2 slips of paper (one for each vaccine) issued by the clinic when I had the jab, will Greek immigration authorities accept these as proof of vaccination?

    • Dimitrios Beis Reply

      Go to your nearest Greek consulate & certify the slips

    • Peter M Reply

      Happy to hear that Greece will NOT make these ‘experimental’ vaccines compulsory to enter…but will still require negative test result within 72 hours or proof of antibodies ( Just today AP: Pause on J&J vaccines due to increase in blood clots in women recently vaccinated

      • Andy Reply

        6 cases out how many?? 7+ million. Sounds like pretty low odds to me. You have a better chance of being attacked by a shark.

    • Victoria Reply

      Hoping to
      travel to Greece in mid September, with my Vaccinated travellers!

  10. Gina DeShera Reply

    I hope this is true. I am a vaccinated us citizen and would love to spend my money vacationing in Greece.

    • Aggeliki Giannioti Reply

      Hopefully this will be the case. I am a Greek – American and I know how much Americans like Greece and enjoy spending their well-earned vacation here. Fingers crossed that two countries will come to an agreement regarding covid safety measures allowing US citizens to travel soon to Greece!

      • TS Reply

        I truly hope everyone lucky enough to be vaccinated already realises this is not yet the case for many still vulnerable in Greece.
        If we’re lucky, maybe over 55’s will get a First vaccination at the end of April…. so please do the maths. Many many Greeks and residents here will be At Risk well into summer…. do not come here if you’re not prepared to respect wearing masks and keeping your distance. Vaccinated people can still spread the virus. I hope you understand Greek deaths could be a consequence of your summer ‘fun’.

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