Mykonos in Greece is all set to return to its pre-Covid party atmosphere

On Greece’s most famous party island, the whitewashed buildings, vibrant blue shutters, and vivid bougainvillea shine brightly under the sun.

Two weeks after the official start of the tourist season, the island remains quiet, with only the sounds of restoration efforts breaking the silence.

In the narrow, winding streets of the main town, where social distancing is a challenge during peak summer, workers are busy refurbishing luxury boutiques. Soon, they’re expected to become the perfect backdrop for countless Instagram shots again.

Across Mykonos' beach bars, the usual thumping music is absent, replaced only by the sounds of the waves. Despite the relaxation of restrictions for outdoor areas, music is still prohibited in venues.

Nightclubs remain closed but are eager to reopen as Greece's 'Operation Blue Freedom' gains momentum. This initiative aims to declare 80 islands – including many of the country's top tourist spots – Covid-free by the end of June.

The key to success lies in a comprehensive vaccination drive targeting every island resident. Only vaccinated visitors, those who’ve recovered from Covid, or individuals with a negative PCR test will be allowed entry.

At the Mykonos Health Center, vaccination slots are fully booked, with more than half of the island’s population having received at least their first dose.

Real estate agent Jerry Markantonatos has just been vaccinated. 'I’ve been waiting for this day since the pandemic began,' he tells Dinogo.

'Honestly, I feel fortunate because I work in tourism, I have a family, parents. It’s a relief that everyone visiting Mykonos and Greece must prove they are negative, and we’re all vaccinated. This will ensure protection. Mykonos will definitely be a Covid-free island this summer.'

A steady stream of tourists returns to Mykonos

Tourism plays a crucial role in Greece’s economic recovery post-Covid, accounting for 18% of the GDP and one in five jobs. It’s the same sector that helped Athens recover from a decade-long financial crisis just before the pandemic struck.

In 2020, Greece welcomed less than a third of the tourists it had in 2019, when over 31 million visitors arrived, according to the UNWTO, the UN's tourism organization.

'The locals were stunned to see Mykonos with so few tourists,' says Mayor Konstantinos Koukas. 'But this year, all signs point to a significant increase, possibly double the visitors of 2020.'

As the government aims to boost tourism, Athens has been taking steps that go beyond what other major Mediterranean tourist destinations have done.

In early April, while still under lockdown and experiencing a surge in cases, Greece began allowing leisure travelers from select countries that had made rapid progress with vaccinations.

On April 19, Greece became the second EU country, after Croatia, to welcome American travelers without quarantine requirements. This marked the first time since March 2020, when Greece entered its first lockdown, that the country has been open to U.S. visitors.

With American visitors being Greece’s largest spenders, Athens is hopeful for a summer boom in U.S. tourism, spurred by the growing number of direct flights between the two countries. The U.S. ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, recently celebrated the 'record-breaking nine daily direct flights by U.S. airlines to Greece.'

With dozens of islands already fully vaccinated and vast stretches of untouched coastline, Greece offers both freedom and variety for visitors.

However, things are trickier in Mykonos, where the island’s economy and identity heavily depend on its nightlife—a challenge, as a local club owner describes it, when adapting to the logistics of Covid restrictions.

The magic formula

Despite Greece being recently added to the U.S. State Department's 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' list, the prospect of a Covid-free Mykonos has sparked growing interest from international tourists, especially Americans, according to Iraklis Zisimopoulos, CEO of the Semeli Hospitality Group, which operates hotels, bars, and restaurants on the island.

'We get a lot of inquiries, although not all of them result in bookings,' he says. 'The main questions are whether we are all vaccinated and if guests will be able to party on the island like they used to.'

'We tell them that by July 1, we expect things to be almost back to normal, just like before Covid.'

Zisimopoulos calls the vaccine 'the secret ingredient for bringing nightlife back.'

Plans for reopening remain uncertain worldwide, regardless of how open a country's policies may seem. New variants continue to raise concerns, and several countries still restrict citizens from traveling abroad. Travelers might also face mandatory quarantines upon returning home.

In Mykonos, the first mega-yachts of the summer have begun to arrive. At the popular Alemagou Beach Bar and Restaurant, champagne is flowing, and a German bachelorette party is in full swing. After months of lockdowns, a guest from Hamburg, wearing a floral dress, says she and her childhood friends are 'living the dream' as they reunite.

'Last year, the rules were in place, but we didn’t have the vaccines,' says Alemagou co-owner Vangelis Siafidas. 'This year, we were one of the first to reopen. We wanted to show people they can have fun and be safe. This is why people are booking tickets.'