Greece is hoping to welcome new visitors again as the Mediterranean country lowers flight and accommodation costs.
As the country sees a lower risk of coronavirus, it is cutting the Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST) on all modes of transport from 24% to 13%.
That means flights coming into the country, as well as its public transport and subsequent flights around Greece, will be cheaper.
The country’s holiday season will begin on 15 June, the same date as easyJet reopens its domestic flights.
Speaking last month, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced: ‘The tourism period begins on 15 June, when seasonal hotels can reopen. Let us make this summer the epilogue of the [Covid-19] crisis.
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‘We will win the economy war just as we won the health battle.’
From June to 1 July, travellers will be allowed to only fly into Thessaloniki or Athens.
After that, planes will be allowed to resume flying into all destinations.
Greece is allowing a number of countries to fly in but as the U.K is still under lockdown and travel restrictions are yet to be lifted, it is not included in Greece’s list.
The countries include Albania, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany and Finland.
Though easyJet will begin operating from next week, Brits will only be able to travel within the UK or to France without quarantine.
At the moment, any arrivals into the U.K have to self-isolate for 14 days which has been criticised.
But by the end of July, half of easyJet’s 1,022 routes will be reopened, increasing to three-quarters by August.
That means Brits could enjoy Greece’s amenities which are soon to be on offer.
Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis added: ‘We are opening up, but at the same time we are closely monitoring the situation. Strict health protocols will protect both staff and tourists.
‘Our aim is to be able to welcome every tourist who has overcome their fear and has the ability to travel to our country.’
Greece’s Hellenic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website states that compulsory testing and quarantine will be limited only to travellers arriving from airports of affected areas with high risk of transmission.
Though Australia is included in Greece’s list of welcome countries, Australians will have to wait a little longer before they fly as they are not allowed to leave unless essential.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/11/greece-cutting-cost-flights-accommodation-encourage-tourists-12836340/
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