Laws, Regulations & Policies

The Greek consular services in Russia are moving swiftly to satisfy the high demand in visas, Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Xydakis said on Wednesday, speaking at the Greek-Russian Tourism Forum at the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Eastern Attica.

Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Kos, Santorini and Zakynthos airports are currently hosting tourist police offices in their arrival area. A tourist police office will soon be opening at Athens International Airport.

Turkish nationals may finally see their dream come true and be able to travel throughout Europe visa-free by June this year after the European Commission proposed lifting the visa requirements for Turkey’s citizens.

Greece may be showing impressively growing numbers of incoming tourists but Greek hotels don’t seem to be the ones cashing in on the good news, according to the latest report released by Gbr Consulting for the first quarter of the year.

Despite putting forth a demand in March that its nationals be allowed Schengen zone visa-free travel by June if it agreed to take back refugees from Greece, Turkey must still meet all 72 criteria for EU accession, the deputy head of the European Commission said in Brussels recently.

The tedious visa regime and seemingly short-staffed consulate offices in Russia are negatively affecting Russian bookings to Greece with local tour operators requesting travelers book two weeks in advance.

Turkey seems to be playing its cards right calling on the EU to lift restrictions on its nationals for Schengen zone visa-free travel by June in exchange for the full implementation of a migration deal with the EU to curtail the flow of refugees to Greece.

The European Union may do away with the current visa waiver program applicable to US and Canadian citizens as a retaliatory move for restrictions imposed by the U.S. and Canada on some EU countries.

Weeks before the official launch of the summer tourism season, Greece’s hoteliers are furious over a proposed tax on accommodation which comes on top of other levies imposed last year.

Greek enterprises may offer discounts up to 20 percent to Russian tourists for their purchases in the country throughout the season, according to Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili.