Greek MPs Call for 72-hour Visa Scheme in Efforts to Boost Tourism

Eighteen governing party MPs have tabled a bill in Greek parliament concerning the issue of a 72-hour visa in order to facilitate tourism to Greece from neighbouring Turkey.

The so-called short stay visa to be issued on arrival would allow Turkish travelers to visit Thrace, Eastern Macedonia and the Aegean islands, increasing in this way the number of incoming tourists and boosting local economies, the MPs said in their proposal. Furthermore, they noted that it would operate as an incentive for Turkish holidaymakers interested in weekend getaways.

Turkish citizens currently need a visa to visit Greece. The application and approval process is costly and time-consuming.

In October last year, the regional governor of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, Georgios Pavlidis, had called on the government to consider issuing short-term visas to Turkish citizens interested in visiting the region.