Covid-19: Greece Ready to Present Protocols for Air, Ferry and Road Transport

Greece is getting ready to present its overall plan for the reboot of tourism in the post-Covid-19 era and will start with the announcement of the health protocols for the safe operation of air, ferry and road transport in Greece, according to government spokesman Stelios Petsas.

As underlined on Thursday during a media briefing, the government is drawing up a full plan to deal with the coronavirus pandemic effects, aiming to cushion, as much as possible, the “inevitably large” losses expected for this year’s tourism season.

The details surrounding the health protocols for the safe operation of air, ferry and road transport in Greece, will be announced tomorrow, on Friday, Petsas said, so both travelers and professionals will be aware of the new rules.

With regards to if Greece will proceed with bilateral agreements on tourism, Petsas said that the goal is to make the most of the “new common framework” with the guidelines and recommendations presented yesterday by the European Commission.

“In any case, Greece is considering bilateral agreements, especially with countries outside the EU, for which announcements will be made soon,” he said, adding that Greece will welcome tourists this year.

“Of course, no one knows what their number will be… and this year will not be the same as the previous,” Petsas said, underlining that it important for Greece to try to have an extended tourism season and also prepare for next year.

According to Petsas, the government’s plan for the economy, which includes supporting workers and tourism, will be introduced in the coming days.

When asked if the government was considering to lift restrictions for travel to all of the Greek islands (May 25) and for the opening of restaurants (June 1) at the same time instead of on different dates, Petsas said that the government’s plan on lifting Covid-19 restrictions is under constant evaluation.

“We move forward every week to open specific sections of economic activity. Depending on how the situation develops, we will adapt accordingly,” he said, reminding that Greece’s organized beaches were originally to reopen at a later date.

He also mentioned that travel to the islands of the Argosaronic will be permitted as of May 25 and not May 18 which had been rumored.

Greece on May 11 entered the second stage of easing lockdown measures that were taken to curb the spread of Covid-19.