Europe

Home page

Europe

Greece extends ban on UK visitors

13 June 2020 15:40 (UTC +04:00)

The Greek government has extended its ban on UK holidaymakers until June 30, APA reports citing Telegraph.

The country, which is due to reopen to international tourism on Monday June 15, was initially due to welcome people from the UK.

However, Athens yesterday announced that the suspension of air links with Britain will continue for another two weeks.

“The ban [on passenger flights from] Great Britain remains in place for the next two weeks,” the tourism minister, Harry Theoharis, said in a televised presentation of the country's health policies.

Greek officials said the move was in line with the EU Commission’s advice that the EU must reopen its external borders in a “strictly coordinated” way.

It was also announced that travellers coming from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands will only be able to fly into Athens, and would have to undergo testing on landing in Greece.

Arrivals who test positive will have to quarantine for 14 days at a designated hotel, paid for by the Greek state.

This news comes as a Greek tourism chief said the country's islands face economic "wipeout" unless British holidaymakers can visit this summer.