Greece will Welcome US Visitors Until End of Season, Says Tourism Minister

Vassilis Kikilias

While a number of countries are following a non-binding EU recommendation and imposing additional Covid-19 travel restrictions on visitors from the United States, Greece has made it clear that it has no intention of excluding American arrivals.

In his first statement to the press on Tuesday since becoming Greek Tourism Minister, Vassilis Kikilias said that “Greece will continue to receive visitors from the USA until the end of the tourist season”.

In his statement, Minister Kikilias said that the US is “a very important market”, which creates added value to the country’s economy.

“Visitors and tourism professionals in the United States of America, and of course Greeks abroad, have shown and continue to show their love for Greece and their trust in the Greek tourism product,” the tourism minister said.

It is reminded that the European Council last week removed the US from the list of safe third countries for non-essential travel into the EU. Covid-19 cases have been rising sharply in the US due to the disease’s Delta variant.

Photo source: U.S. Department of State: Consular Affairs

A few days later, Greece issued a revised aviation directive that has kept the US on its “safe list” of non-EU countries and territories whose residents are eligible to enter.

Before entering Greece, travelers from the US must complete a PLF (passenger locator form) and upon arrival show either proof of vaccination or proof of prior infection or a negative Covid (PCR or rapid) test result. (Press here for more information on entering Greece.)

Like Greece, other EU countries that have ignored the recommendation include Germany, Norway, Portugal and France.

However, Sweden and Bulgaria have banned travelers from the US from entering their borders for non-essential reasons.

Other EU member states, including The Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Belgium, have tightened restrictions on American travelers.