Greece is gearing up to welcome tourists again – as long as they have antibodies, been vaccinated or tested negative for the coronavirus.
Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis announced the country’s plan to welcome travelers back until May 14, during a presentation at the ITB Berlin fair, Reuters reported.
“Greece is ready with a complete protocol for the summer of 2021,” said Theocharis, according to Reuters. “Tourists will be welcome if they are vaccinated or have antibodies before the trip or the test is negative. All tourists will be subjected to random tests.”
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To help prepare the country for visitors, Theocharis said that tourism industry officials would be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines after the country’s vulnerable populations, Reuters reported.
Greece is preparing to open its borders to tourists who have antibodies, a complete COVID-19 vaccine or a negative test result, by 14 May. (IStock)
Greece relies heavily on tourism, with one in five workers employed in the industry, according to the news agency.
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Before the pandemic, some 31.3 million people visited the country in Greece, reported The Guardian. Officials hope to have at least half that number of tourists this year, according to the newspaper.
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Greece is not the only country to open its borders to vaccinated travelers.
According to The Points Guy, Estonia, Georgia, Lebanon and Seychelles already allow travelers to visit if they have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine – along with other protocols, including a negative coronavirus test, depending on the country.
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Iceland, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia also allow travelers to visit with proof of vaccination or negative test results. However, American citizens are currently not allowed to visit these countries, reported The Points Guy.
As of May 1, Cyprus plans to open its borders to visitors who have received the vaccine – but this will only apply to travelers from the United Kingdom and not from the United States, according to the website.