Greece’s prime minister and several top ministers on Wednesday unveiled a plan to restart, and essentially salvage this year’s all-important tourism and travel season, after nearly two months of a “lockdown” imposed in the east Mediterranean country to prevent further exposure to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among others, people travelling to Greece will not be required to show proof of a Covid-19 test, nor will a quarantine will mandated for a certain time after their arrival in the country for holidays.
Greece weathered the coronavirus pandemic with very low rates of infection and fatalities, compared to other EU member-states, with less than 3,000 confirmed instances reported, and less than 170 related deaths, as of Thursday.
In terms of religious tourism and pilgrimages, organized tours and visits are suspended until June 5, based on a joint ministerial decision and a decision by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. Nevertheless, the first contacts undertaken by the Greek government, on a bilateral basis, for the reopening of borders to travelers and holiday makers, have been with predominately Orthodox countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.