Covid-19

The residents of 28 small and remote Greek islands are now exempt from paying the unified property tax (ENFIA) from 2020 onwards, the Finance Ministry has announced.

The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has signed the “Tbilisi Declaration” with a commitment to make international travel safe again.

KLM customers can request a refundable voucher free of charge for all tickets with a planned departure up and until 31 March 2021.

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) has released updated guidelines for travel to Greece in the post-Covid19 era.

The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) has revealed plans regarding the strategy it aims to follow to promote Greece abroad in the post-Covid-19 era.

Divergent Covid-19 restrictions across Europe have hindered all efforts to reverse the slowdown in air travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, says Eurocontrol.

Greek health experts are calling on strict adherence to Covid-19 measures, warning that if cases in Attica do not decrease, harsher restrictions may be required.

Restrictions have been announced for Trikala in Thessaly, as it has been included among Greece’s “epidemiological burdened areas” due to Covid-19.

Investments and reforms should be the top priority when considering the allocation of Greece’s recovery funds, says Alternate Finance Minister Theodore Skylakakis.

Occupancy rates at hotels in Thessaloniki reached only 20% in August, according to the city’s hotels association president, Andreas Mandrinos.

Greece will emerge as one of the hardest hit economies by Covid-19 due to the impact of restrictions on tourism, its main revenue-generating industry, says a DBRS Morningstar report.

Greece has announced extra restrictions for the region of Attica, which includes the city of Athens, aimed at curbing the further spread of Covid-19.

The European Commission intends to extend the suspension of EU regulations on airport slots for the 2020/2021 winter season, until 27 March 2021.

Covid-19 lockdowns during the January-June 2020 period had a massive impact on international tourism with arrivals showing a 65% drop when compared to 2019.

The Greek Tourism Ministry will take additional marketing actions in 2021 to promote Halkidiki, which has been impacted by tight measures due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“Greek tourism remains strong… but 2021 will be a year of survival,” according to Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios.

TUI Cruises has become the first company to offer itineraries in Greece, after successfully restarting cruise travel from German ports.

Air France travelers can change their tickets at no extra cost on the date and to the destination of their choice for trips until 31 March 2021.

The ITB Asia 2020 Virtual event, scheduled to take place during 21-23 October, has revealed its agenda that will focus on ways to reinvent travel.

Greek destinations, where strict Covid-19 measures have been imposed, will receive extra exposure in the country’s tourism promotion program in 2021.