Published on : Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Greece is planning to develop a three-point plan with the aim of helping the country to reopen tourism post the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism contributes to nearly 18% of the country’s economy. However, tourist arrivals came to a standstill in light of the COVID-19 outbreak as a result of nationwide lockdowns and extensive flight bans undertaken by governments across the globe to prevent the spread of the virus.
On Monday, Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis presented the key components of the plan for restarting tourism to lawmakers in Parliament. The plans begin with a focus on special health safety protocols designed for hotels, marinas, pleasure yachts, tour buses, airplanes, and other areas that attract tourists. Technical teams from the National Organization for Public Health (EODY) in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry will begin to execute the first set of action by May 8.
Greece is on with the governments of major tourist markets regarding the second part of the plan. It will establish certain steps that will be needed to resume incoming and outbound flights, including health protocols. Meanwhile, the third part of the plan involves a new public advertising campaign. The campaign would be designed to promote Greece as a destination and to build new contacts with international tour operators and media to enhance the country’s image.
Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis said in a recent press statement that if the German, Russian or American governments quarantine everyone returning from Greece, no tourists will arrive in the country later. He mentioned that diplomacy might be required at the moment alongside bolstering domestic tourism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis added in a recent press brief that tourism experience for the summer season this year would be slightly different from the past with strict social distancing measures. He mentioned if the pandemic gradually goes away people can get a fantastic experience in Greece while maintaining safety rules.
He also shared that if the easing of lockdown measures is smoothly launched this week and if strict health regulations are implemented, Greece might be ready to reopen to tourists on July 1.
Tags: Coronavirus, greece, Greece tourism