Greece without tourism is like the North Sea without fish: But in the middle of the summer season, the corona numbers on the Aegean Sea explode and vacationers stay away.
Athens - The tourism industry is one of the most important economic sectors in Greece.
But in the middle of the 2021 summer season, the seven-day incidence is increasing in the most popular holiday resorts and with it new restrictions for vacationers come along.
Country in the European Union: |
Greece |
Capital: |
Athens |
Regering boss: |
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis |
Residents: |
10,718,565 (as of January 2020) |
Surface: |
131,957 square kilometers |
The current incidence in Greece on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 is 175.3, 1834 new infections related to Covid-19 were reported, eight people died in Greece.
The result: bookings are canceled or not made at all, many vacationers pack their bags and leave.
And the new restrictions in Greece * are tough.
On the island of Mykonos, for example, the government has issued a strict ban on going out.
Bars and restaurants are closed by 1:00 a.m. at the latest.
Dancing is forbidden in bars and discos across the country.
Violations can result in severe penalties such as fines or even license revocation for disco and bar operators.
The measures should initially take effect for one week.
Rather, entrepreneurs and restaurateurs assume that the rule could last until at least the end of July.
“The party now continues in the private sphere.
Beach parties are no longer taking place, ”a voice on Focus Online was quoted as saying.
Vacationers would switch to the neighboring islands.
Greece is running away from vacationers in the Corona crisis: Incidence could bring further lockdown
The result: a number of tourists break off their vacation, some try their luck on a neighboring island, where the corona measures are not yet so strict.
The focus is apparently on the party stronghold Santorini.
But there, too, there are threats of restrictions in the coming days due to the increasing number of infections with Sars-Cov-2, new corona measures.
The health authority also wants to impose further measures for Naxos, Crete, Milos, Ios and Paros.
A new lockdown could come as early as Thursday, July 22, 2021.
Greece has already imposed far-reaching restrictions on its risk areas in the past few days in order to get the coronavirus infections under control.
In these regions there is a ban on serving unvaccinated people.
Restaurants and bars, for example, have to clearly indicate whether they only serve vaccinated and convalescent people.
+
The number of infections in Greece is increasing and tourists are staying away.
(Symbol image)
© picture alliance / dpa / XinHua |
Marios Lolos
If both groups of guests are allowed, they must be strictly separated from one another.
According to media reports, a ban on entering supermarkets for unvaccinated people is also being planned from mid-September.
Incidence: Greece's vacationers are running away in the Corona crisis - how can I cancel my vacation now?
What do these restrictions mean for my vacation and can I still cancel it, as in Spain?
Many people are currently asking this question and this is what tourists in Greece should know now who have planned a trip to the Aegean Sea in the coming days and weeks.
When booking a trip, it is always advisable to also take out travel cancellation insurance. But here, too, there are a few things to consider, because travel cancellation insurance only applies if you cannot start the booked trip for an insured reason. This is the case, for example, when a serious and unexpected illness occurs. In this case, the contractually owed cancellation costs will be taken over. The prerequisite is of course that you have taken out the insurance before the illness and in compliance with the deadlines. The submission of a medical certificate is mandatory.
If the trip has to be canceled, for example due to illness, or if the return trip has to be postponed, the so-called travel cancellation insurance applies.
This is usually included in travel cancellation insurance.
If you have such insurance, you can have any additional costs incurred - for example for a rebooking - reimbursed.
Additional return travel and accommodation costs are also normally covered by this insurance.
Corona incidence Greece: pandemics are often not included in travel insurance
But caution is advised if the corona test is positive.
Many insurers rule out a disease classified as a pandemic according to the WHO as a reason for termination or resignation from the outset.
A second look at the small print of the general terms and conditions is worthwhile.
However, if you want to cancel your vacation purely out of fear or worry of infection, you should be warned.
In these cases, the travel cancellation insurance does not take over.
A travel warning from the Federal Foreign Office is also not considered an insured event, so that the insurance usually does not apply here either.
This also applies if, for example, there is an entry ban for certain nationalities.
+
The beaches are empty again: Many tourists are turning their backs on Greece (here the beach on the island of Mykonos) due to the increasing incidence.
(Symbol image)
© IMAGO / agefotostock
If you have booked a package tour, you can generally always cancel.
Please note, however: The organizer can of course charge a cancellation fee.
As a rule, package tours can only be canceled free of charge if travel or travel is significantly impaired.
According to ADAC, this applies if, for example, there is a general entry ban for the booked location or trains no longer run.
How can I cancel my pandemic vacation: travel insurance policies require proof
In general, the following applies to these insurances: If you want to report a claim, you have the burden of proof. This means that you have to prove yourself that the insurance is effective. In the case of a package tour, it can also be helpful to contact the organizer. It may be possible that an amicable solution will be found - such as a free rebooking or something similar.
Withdrawal from the trip - without incurring costs - is always possible if the organizer makes significant changes to the scope of services or if the trip is flawed.
A deficiency is, for example, when central sights are closed or the beach cannot be used during a beach holiday due to Corona measures - as is currently the case in the Catalan part of the country including Barcelona in Spain.
However, this must be decided on a case-by-case basis; at best, it is advisable to inquire with the organizer in advance of the trip.
Since Corona has only been rampant for a year and a half, there are not many court rulings in this regard that can be invoked.
* Kreiszeitung.de and merkur.de are offers from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / dpa / XinHua |
Marios Lolos
