Covid-19

Greek authorities have extended emergency Covid-19 restrictions for five areas in Greece, including Heraklion on Crete and Ikaria.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias had his first meeting with the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) and discussed a number of key issues involving the sector.

Greece’s economy took a turn for the better in the second quarter of the year, according to data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Although still affected by the Covid-19 impact on air travel, Athens Airport in August handled some 2.11 million passengers, an increase of 75.3% compared to 2020.

Greece was the stand-out tourism destination in Europe this summer as it achieved some 86% of July and August 2019 arrivals.

While a number of EU countries are imposing additional Covid-19 travel restrictions on US visitors, Greece is making it clear that it has no intention of excluding American arrivals.

Tourism in the South Aegean stayed on pace in August and topped the two million mark for visitor arrivals to the region this summer.

Grigoris Tasios, the president of the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation, says that he expects Greece to achieve 50 percent of 2019 tourism levels.

Unvaccinated people in Greece from September 13 will need a negative Covid-19 rapid antigen test result to travel between regions by plane, ferry, bus, or train.

A number of destinations in Greece this summer welcomed thousands of Greeks that took advantage of the Tourism Ministry’s holiday subsidy program ‘Tourism for All’.