Recent health alerts have been issued for traveling to Greece after most lockdown restrictions were lifted

Is it too much, too soon?

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has cautioned against non-essential travel to Greece's 13 southern Aegean islands, including popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, just a month after Greece officially kicked off its tourist season and eased most lockdown measures.

On a local level, Greek Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias has voiced concerns over increasing COVID-19 cases in Mykonos, Ios, Zakynthos, Tinos, Lefkada, Santorini, Paros, and Rhodes.

"We are reopening our tourism sector to the world," declared tourism minister Haris Theocharis in June at the Temple of Poseidon near Athens. According to the BBC, German visitors have already started arriving. Travelers from the EU's 'green list' countries are now making their way to Greece, alongside visitors from the United States, Serbia, Israel, and the UAE, provided they are vaccinated or can present negative COVID-19 test results.

Greek officials announced they are "moving past the lockdown" due to the successful vaccination campaign. Museums have reopened, and retail stores can operate without appointment requirements, although capacity limits will be enforced to maintain social distancing.

Officials state that Greece is ranked fourth among all EU nations in terms of vaccination rates per 100 residents.

Despite several ongoing restrictions, the government has eased many measures introduced during the lockdown. For instance, residents no longer need to text a hotline when leaving their homes or going shopping, interregional travel is permitted, and the late-night curfew has been adjusted to run from 12:30 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Greece has taken bold steps in planning its reopening, launching an extensive promotional campaign to mark the reopening of its borders to tourists. Tourism plays a vital role in the economy, employing nearly a fifth of the nation's workforce.

Travelers arriving from the mentioned countries will not need to quarantine if they can provide proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to arrival. All tourists must adhere to any remaining lockdown measures in Greece, including the late-night curfew.

"The entire country is safe," stated tourism minister Haris Theocharis to parliament in April while outlining the sun-kissed nation’s reopening plans.

The reopening strategy for all travelers includes a "five lines of defense" approach. These measures consist of:

• All visitors must be fully vaccinated or show a negative COVID-19 test result;
• A screening system at Greece's airports and borders, allowing random passengers to undergo rapid testing;
• Any visitor who tests positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined in a designated "quarantine hotel";
• All workers in the tourism sector must be vaccinated (they will receive priority once the most vulnerable Greek citizens are vaccinated); and
• Strict compliance with safety measures such as social distancing.

What implications does this hold for U.S. citizens planning to return to Athens or visiting popular Greek Isles like Santorini or Mykonos? Although Greece is welcoming tourists, the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Embassy in Greece recommend that American travelers "reconsider" their trip to the country.

Greece is a crucial part of European airlines' summer recovery strategy. The revival of tourism is expected to boost the number of flights into the country. Already, budget airline Ryanair has added extra flights from the U.K. to the Greek Isles. British Airways is contemplating re-routing some of its larger planes, such as the Boeing 787s and 777s currently grounded at Heathrow, for shorter trips to the Mediterranean. Emirates has resumed its nonstop fifth-freedom route from New York (JFK) to Athens (ATH).

Restoring tourism is crucial for Greece's economic stability. Numerous cities and towns in this southeastern European nation depend on visitor spending, and the impact of the year-long pandemic has severely affected many local businesses.

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