Greece is Reopening Its Borders to Vaccinated Tourists in May

Greece is Reopening Its Borders to Vaccinated Tourists in May

The turquoise waters and gorgeous sandy beaches in Greece await you!

If you’re planning to have all the fun in the sun this summer, you can probably make your way to the country on the southernmost tip of the Balkan peninsula! If you haven’t guessed it, we are talking about Greece! It is planning to reopen its borders to a handful of tourists come May. 

Who are the tourists Greece is planning to reopen its borders to?

Image credit: Jeroen den Otter

  • Tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • Tourist with COVID-19 antibodies. This refers to the group of people who may have been infected with the coronavirus and have recovered from the infection.
  • Tourists who have tested negative for COVID-19. 

According to Tourism Minister of Greece, Harry Theocharis, the tentative date of the reopening is 14 May 2021. He shed light on the good news during a presentation at the ITB Berlin trade show.

Summer in Greece essentially begins in June and lasts through September. For tourists seeking to bask in the abundant sunshine on the myriad of beautiful Greek islands that fringe the Mediterranean sea, they’ll have the perfect opportunity to do so considering the timeliness of the reopening. 

Also read: Vaccinated Against COVID-19? Here’s A List of Countries You Can Visit

Measures Greece is implementing before reopening its borders

Image credit: Alex Blăjan

Furthermore, Greece is making every possible effort to help prepare the country for the arrival of international visitors. It will roll out COVID-19 vaccination for individuals working in the tourism industry as soon as it successfully inoculates the elderly and vulnerable populations. 

In addition to that, Greece is looking to expedite its vaccination programme in April. This will be made possible with the arrival of large quantities of Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic cut a swathe across the globe, Greece welcomed a whopping 31.3 million tourists into the country. It is hoping to reach at least half of that number this year. 

Greece relies on the tourism industry heavily. One out of five locals dabble in the sector that has faced a brutal test amidst this ongoing pandemic. 

Also read: 30 Basic Greek Words & Phrases to Learn Before Your Trip

We are crossing our fingers that Greece reopening to vaccinated travellers go as planned. After all, the thought of taking a dip in crystal-clear waters, tucking into mouth-watering Greek cuisine, walking into an incredible party scene, and visiting archaeological sites is too good to be missed! 

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Ifah Sakinah
Ifah Sakinah

Sakinah has a discerning palate and an innate desire to satisfy her inner curiosity. While she hasn't been everywhere, it's definitely on her list.

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