How is Greece unraveling?
When Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis launched the deconfinement measures on May 4, tourism professionals were in the front row. Second pillar of the economy in Greece, behind the merchant marine, the tourist sector is essential to the country, where hundreds of thousands of French flock in the summer, especially towards the Cyclades.
In summary: the country is running in through a gradual deconfinement (beaches, archaeological sites, cafes, restaurants ...) to experience the conditions of reception of vacationers, expected from the end of July, according to the Prime Minister.
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The general rule will remain the same for all, holidaymakers as natives: wearing of the compulsory mask on all the territory under penalty of a fine of 150 euros, social distancing and making available, in all places, hydroalcoholic gel. Public and private beaches reopened on May 16. A full-scale trial run. The rules to be observed are strict: 40 people maximum on 1,000 m², a distance of 4 meters between the parasols. The sun loungers are disinfected after each visit by a client.
Since May 18, Greeks can also travel from one region to another on the continent. But it will take until June 1 to go to most of the islands, relatively untouched by the epidemic. Less affected by Covid-19 than its European partners, the country deplores 163 dead to date. Domestic flights have also resumed gradually since May 18. Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Air France must again ensure the connection between Paris and Athens from May 23. The Greek company Aegean has scheduled flights from the end of May to Munich, Zurich, Frankfurt (Germany), Geneva (Switzerland) and Brussels.
Read also: Air France gradually resumes flights by the end of June
Finally, the government has extended until May 31 the suspension of flights outside the European Union, but also with Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The situation will be reviewed on that date.
But the country has already given itself its horizon for tourism, set at the end of July. On Thursday, May 14, the Prime Minister assured that the country would find "a way to bring people back safely" .
Read also: Coronavirus: Greece, from black sheep to good student of Europe
Planes, ferries, social distancing ... Under what conditions could we travel?
The arrival of the foreign visitor would formalize between states. Greece plans to date to conclude interstate agreements with Bulgaria, Israel and Cyprus for the free movement of their nationals. France and Germany could follow.
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In airports, the country plans, in the short term, to have rapid tests (results in 15 minutes) or multi-function security gates that can check the temperature of each passenger on the wrist. For the moment, an immunological certificate of less than 72 hours must be presented by all new arrivals.
In the maritime sector, the ferries which serve the many islands popular with tourists, can only accommodate 55% of their total capacity, and only 50% for the fastest (highspeed). One seat out of two will be condemned. The cabins will be fully disinfected at each port.
Classic ferries serving the islands of Greece (here Mykonos in the Cyclades) will only be able to navigate at 55% of their passenger capacity. stock.adobe
Regarding the hotel, no detail is overlooked, either. Several proposals are on the table and some professionals have adopted them without delay: non-recycling of air conditioning, or change of filter with each new customer. In hotel restaurants, vacationers would be received in small groups to respect social distancing, with an incentive to have breakfast in the rooms.
Some beaches, such as those on the island of Santorini, did not waste time by surrounding their deckchairs with plexiglass panels, as a precaution.
" We think we have found a balance between effectiveness against the virus and on the other a pleasant hotel environment, " says Alexandre Vassilikos, president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hoteliers. Note that in each tourist region, a hotel will be requisitioned to possibly serve as a “quarantine place” .
As Lina Mendoni, Minister in charge of Culture, underlined, "no summer 2020 without culture" . Since May 18, the Acropolis of Athens, the most visited monument in Greece, is open again, like all archaeological sites in the country. Maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters between each non-family person is compulsory. The visits will follow each other every hour.
The museums will open on June 15, on condition that the pandemic continues to decline. The same scenario is envisaged: the entrances will be spaced out in small groups.
Open-air cinemas will open on June 1 with a fill limit set at 40% of the capacity of the hall, as for shows in ancient open air theaters. They are scheduled to start on July 15 in an atmosphere that already promises to be special. The actors must all wear surgical masks, and the first seat of the spectator must be 3 meters away from the stage. The slogan of tourism in Greece is now "Security First", after that of "Heritage First", which had prevailed for years, underlined Lina Mendoni.