- Title: Greece rolls out red carpet to visitors as airports reopen
- Date: 1st July 2020
- Summary: TOURISTS ARRIVING IN AIRPORT TOURISTS WAITING AT LUGGAGE BELT WEARING MASKS TOURISTS WALKING IN AIRPORT WITH MASKS TOURISTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, WEARING MASKS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST SUZANA BOSATKOVA FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC SAYING: "Greece is our favourite country, and also we decided even in this weird time to come because we feel it's a safe country and why not?" REPORTER ASKS: "Were you afraid because of the coronavirus you wouldn't be able to go on vacation this year? (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST SUZANA BOSATKOVA FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC SAYING: "Yes, definitely, it was an awful time and we were looking forward to coming to the sea." VARIOUS OF TOURISTS RETRIEVING LUGGAGE FROM LUGGAGE BELT (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST ALEXANDROS KATRAKIS FROM GERMANY, SAYING: "The measures here taken they are very strict, they make us feel very safe, much more than at home actually, so we will have a good time here and we will be safe." VARIOUS OF AIRPORT EMPLOYEE HANDING OUT GIFT BAGS TO TOURISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST ALEXANDROS KATRAKIS FROM GERMANY, RESPONDING TO WHETHER HE WAS WORRIED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO ON HOLIDAY THIS YEAR, SAYING: "In a sense yes, but we were always optimistic and we were very happy to hear the season opened today." VARIOUS OF TOURISTS OUTSIDE AIRPORT WITH THEIR LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN TOURIST SAYING HOW HE FEELS TO BE IN GREECE: "Great! The sun is shining, I enjoy Rhodes." (GIVES THE THUMBS UP) VARIOUS OF TOURISTS SIGNING UP TO GET ON TOURIST GROUP BUSES, TOUR GROUP OPERATORS WEARING MASKS ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 26, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK TOURISM MINISTER HARIS THEOCHARIS SAYING: "Its a calculated risk, we do not rush things, we take it one step at a time. We opened first only 2 airports, now we are opening all our regional airports. We have data, we have tested more than 20,000 people during these few days and we can target now our testing into the areas where there is more risk." RHODES, GREECE (JULY 1, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TOURISTS BOARDING TOURIST BUSES ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 26, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREEK TOURISM MINISTER HARIS THEOCHARIS SAYING: "We are not doing this for the economic terms - we know that this is not going to be a successful year if it's judged by the numbers, and the income, and the revenues and arrivals of the previous years. This is about going back to normality, giving people a sense of normality in their lives." RHODES, GREECE (JULY 1, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TOURISTS BOARDING TOURIST BUSES TOUR GROUP OPERATOR WEARING FACE SHIELD
- Embargoed: 15th July 2020 11:14
- Keywords: Greece Rhodes island Theocharis Tourism Minister first TUI flight first tourists arrive flights islands tourism
- Location: RHODES AND ATHENS, GREECE
- City: RHODES AND ATHENS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Reuters ID: LVA002CKZ8NK7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tourists poured into Greece's islands on Wednesday (July 1) as the country reopened its regional airports to international flights, pinning its hopes on a recovery in tourism after a three-month lockdown.
"We decided even in this weird time to come because we feel that it's a safe country," said Suzana Bosatkova from the Czech Republic, as she arrived at the airport in Rhodes, where musicians played the 'bouzouki' and dancers in traditional folk costumes greeted the passengers.
"It was an awful time and we were looking forward to coming to the sea," she added.
"The measures here taken they are very strict, they make us feel very safe, much more than at home actually, so we will have a good time here and we will be safe," said Alexandros Katrakis from Germany.
Dozens of flights were expected on Wednesday at Greece's 18 regional airports. All travellers must fill in a passenger locator form at least 48 hours before entering the country. Random tests will be conducted upon arrival.
The country has managed to contain coronavirus infections to 3,409 since its first case in February. But its economy is expected to shrink by at least 8% this year. The conservative government faces the tough task of opening Greece to foreign visitors and preventing a new virus outbreak. Twenty new cases were reported on Tuesday, nine of them arriving by air, government officials said.
"It's a calculated risk. We do not rush things, we take it one step at a time," Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis told Reuters. "We are not doing this for the economic terms - we know that this is not going to be a successful year if it's judged by the numbers...this is about going back to normality, giving people a sense of normality in their lives," he added.
Greece is following European Union directives on who is allowed into the country. Direct flights from Britain, Sweden and Turkey will not be permitted until July 15. The EU gave approval on Tuesday to leisure or business travel from 14 countries outside its borders. From its initial "safe list" it excluded Russia and the United States, both significant tourism markets for Greece.
(Production: Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Alkis Konstantinidis, Vassilis Triandafyllou) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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