Greece to open tourism services next month

Greece says its tourism services will open on May 15 when a ban on travel between different regions of the country will also be lifted.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the announcement in a televised address, adding that restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen outdoor areas starting May 3.

Restrictions, many of which have been in effect since early November, will remain in place over Orthodox Easter on May 2.

Despite the lockdown measures, Greece has struggled to contain a flare-up in cases that started in late January, and its mortality rate remains above the European Union average. The cumulative death toll reached 9,713 Wednesday. Tourism is a key industry for the Greek economy.