Tourism minister clarifies directives on foreign tourists arriving in Greece

Greece is focusing on airport origins in allowing only flights from approved countries to land as of June 15, regardless of a passenger's nationality, Minister of Tourism Harry Theoharis told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) on Sunday.

The announcement that Greece would reopen to foreign flights as of June 15 following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic restrictions was followed by a list of countries of origin, which include Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, and Finland. Flights from abroad will be allowed to land only in the Athens and Thessaloniki International Airports, as of mid-June.

In clarifications to the above regulation, Theoharis said that the list of approved airports for incoming tourists were included in the frequently updated list of the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as published on Saturday by the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry's travel directive.

As Theoharis told, "Tourists originating from airports listed on EASA are obliged to be tested once they land in Greece and remain at a designated hotel for one day," in order for the test results to be completed. "If the test turns out negative, these visitors will then be obliged to observe a 7-day quarantine. If their sample is positive, they will remain in a 14-day quarantine and their health will be monitored," he explained.

Authorities will conduct random sample testing on passengers arriving from airports on the approved list, he noted.

"Greece is opening its doors in a planned way, safely, and following the agreement of doctors at all times," the minister said. "We are moving within the medical framework and applying scientists' directives to the letter, fully agreeing with international directives to protect every tourist's and Greek citizen's health."