Greece puts out welcome mat for foreign tourists

SANTORINI, Greece - Beaches packed with sun beds and tourists cramming narrow streets and terraces overlooking the caldera to enjoy a stunning sunset have been the norm for the iconic island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea for many years, even in June. But not this year.

Greece's attractions reopened their gates to tourists on Monday after months of closure due to the COVID-19 crisis, with protecting the health of visitors and locals being the country's top priority, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced.

The islanders in one of the most popular destinations in the country are eager to welcome their first foreign visitors under the new standards. They retain optimism that eventually all will turn out well, for the world, Greece and its tourism industry, a vital pillar of the local economy for decades, they said.

Mitsotakis chose Santorini to officially launch the tourism season on Saturday. As of Monday, international flights for tourists to Athens and Thessaloniki airports have resumed.

Travelers from 29 countries, including China, with positive epidemiological data, will be subject to sample testing only upon arrival, while visitors from countries on the European Union Aviation Safety Agency list of affected areas with a high risk of transmission of COVID-19, until June 30 will have to be tested upon arrival and spend at least one night at a designated hotel.

As of July 1, Greece will fully open all its airports to flights from abroad, as well as sailings from other countries. Seven overland border points will also reopen, and tourists will be subject only to random sampling.

"I believe that about 30 percent of hotels will not open this season. We will see how the season is going and decide the next steps," said Antonis Iliopoulos, president of Santorini Hoteliers Association.

Owners cannot cope with the operational costs when occupancy rates on average hardly reach 15 percent for the coming weeks, he said.

"We have more reservations in August than July, we have more reservations in September than August, so it seems that the season will be extended," Iliopoulos said, noting that many businessmen are waiting to see whether flows will increase before hiring more staff.

Government measures

During spring, while Greece was in lockdown, the government announced the first set of measures to support employees and employers, such as tax breaks, benefits and coverage of contributions to social security funds by the state budget.

"We are looking forward to more measures to be taken. They promised us that they will do the best they can in order to protect our industry," Iliopoulos said.

Meanwhile, hotel rooms and public areas are constantly disinfected, distances are kept between tables and the personnel have been trained to meet the new hygiene demands.

"We have taken all the necessary measures based on health safety protocols and therefore people should be feeling safe and they should come to enjoy the Greek hospitality, the sun and the sea," hotelier Andreas Patiniotis said.

Xinhua