Greece’s tourism to recover from Covid misery

Greece kickstarts its tourism season on Friday, with the government and travel operators hoping the lure of sun, sand and sea will bring a sorely needed revenue boost after last year’s miserable holiday season.

“We are raising anchor,” Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis declared as he launched the holiday season on Thursday evening from the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion near Athens.

“We leave behind the dark clouds of fear and insecurity,” he added, saying foreign tourists were eager to return to the country to take in the sunshine and turquoise waters.

The announcement couldn’t come soon enough for restaurateurs and café owners eagerly preparing for patrons to come back after suffering so long under coronavirus lockdown measures.

“We’re hoping for a good season . . . and for people to choose our country and our island,” said Alexandros Koukourakis as he set up tables and chairs at his restaurant near the old town of Chania on the island of Crete.

“We are putting behind a difficult period while still taking precautionary measures.” According to government regulations announced on Wednesday, anyone travelling to Greek islands by sea or air must show a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result.

Europe’s leading tour operator, TUI, has scheduled 120 flights to Greece until the end of May, with the first six touching down on Friday and another 15 on Saturday. Some 40 international incoming flights are expected in 14 regional Greek airports on Friday and another 110 on Saturday.

Most islands have less extensive health facilities than the mainland and an initiative to vaccinate local populations is underway. Nationwide, nearly 4 million vaccinations have already been carried out, including some 1.4 million double doses in the country of 10.8 million.

In an early setback, the United Kingdom put Greece on its amber travel list, meaning that returning Britons face at least five days in quarantine.