Greece Calls on The Netherlands to Ease Travel Restrictions

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis (left, center) met with Sophie van den Ende, Director General for EU Affairs at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo source: Embassy of Greece to the Netherlands (@PressGreekEmbas)

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis visited the Netherlands this week to hold talks with government officials and sector professionals about easing travel restrictions and allowing travel to Greece.

During his meeting with Anita van den Ende, director general for EU Cooperation at the Dutch foreign ministry, Theoharis presented the country’s updated risk-assessment map which tracks the spread of Covid-19 in the country and provides the latest information on safety restrictions by regional unit, municipality and island.

Theoharis underlined the importance of easing restrictions on travel to the Greek islands, adding that besides the strict safety protocols, Greece also covers the cost of treatment should a traveler be infected with Covid during their holiday.

Van den Ende said travel guidance to Greece would be reconsidered.

Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis during his visit to The Netherlands

Theoharis also met with Dutch tour operators including the CEO at Sunweb, Mattijs ten Brink, informing them of the decline in coronavirus cases in Greece.

The minister said the country was open to travelers who are either fully vaccinated, hold a negative PCR test result 72 hours ahead of travel, or a rapid test taken 24 hours before their trip.

Theoharis discussed with Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR) President Frank Oostdam and Arjan Kers, general manager TUI Nederlands, the possibility of extending the tourist season with additional flights from the Netherlands to Greece through to November to cover the autumn holidays for Dutch students.

The minister also held talks with other tour operators and was interviewed for local media, including Trav Magazine and Dutch daily de Volkskrant.

Theoharis is scheduled to visit Denmark as part of his Northern Europe tour.