Greece Will Open to Tourists on July 1; No Prior Covid-19 Test Required

Greece will allow international flights to return to its tourist destinations beginning on July 1, the country’s prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in a televised address on Wednesday.
Mitsotakis announced that the tourism season will officially begin on June 15.
Health officials will conduct sample coronavirus tests at Greek airports and therefore it was decided that there is no need for a COVID-19 test before arrival in the country. There will also be no 14-day quarantine for inbound travelers to Greece.

Η τουριστική περίοδος ξεκινά 15 Ιουνίου, όταν θα μπορούν να ανοίξουν τα εποχικά ξενοδοχεία. Από 1η Ιουλίου, σταδιακά, θα ξεκινήσουν οι απευθείας πτήσεις εξωτερικού. Στους επισκέπτες μας θα γίνονται δειγματοληπτικά τεστ. Και θα τηρούνται τα γενικά υγειονομικά μας πρωτόκολλα.

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) May 20, 2020

“Our visitors will undergo test sampling and our general health protocols will be observed, which will not overshadow, however, either our bright sun or the natural beauty of Greece,” he stressed.
“Our weapon is the passport of security, reliability and health that our country has won. Its great fame. The shield of health in every place of hospitality. And of course, the passion of the Greek who is always inspired by Xenios Zeus,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Greek god Zeus was known for his hospitality.
Elaborating on Mitsotakis’ announcement, Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis said that flights will initially only land in Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport when services resume on June 15, but will eventually extend to all the airports in the country as of July 1.
The first tourists will be from countries where the epidemiological data is encouraging; the Minister mentioned residents of the Balkans (Bulgaria) and countries in northern Europe, such as Germany, as candidates for early admission to the country.
Theoharis said authorities will boost the healthcare capacities of several tourist destinations by providing tests and doctors, as well as an operational plan for the handling of possible infections (a hotel doctor, quarantine areas and the means to transfer to a health facility).