Greece steps up island vaccinations to encourage international visitors
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, explained the plan in a meeting with regional governors via teleconference. The plan is to vaccinate the residents of more than 80 islands by June 25. The latest plan builds on an existing program started in April to vaccinate the inhabitants living on islands with less than 10,000 residents.
Welcoming visitors back to Greece is important for the European country, as its tourism sector accounts for around one-fifth of its economy. The vaccination plan is running in tandem with other plans to vaccinate 280,000 workers in the tourism sector against the virus, as soon as Greece’s vulnerable people have received their vaccinations. The program is running under a strategy dubbed “Operation Freedom.”
According to Forbes, the country has already dropped its quarantine requirements for travelers from more than 30 countries, including the US and UK. Their citizens are welcome, as long as they have tested negative for the virus or can prove they have been fully vaccinated.
Despite this, Greece is not on the UK’s recently announced “green list” for quarantine-free travel and is currently at “amber.” On top of this, the US State Department advises Americans against travel to Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hoped this situation will change soon.
Why the Greek Islands?
Travelers are attracted to Greece’s ancient ruins, beautiful beaches and architecture, clear blue skies and a culture of passionate music and delicious food. Greece has already started reorganizing how its beaches will operate once tourists return. Later in May, the country will be opening up the doors of its museums, theaters and open-air cinemas.
While Greece as a whole is popular with tourists, the islands are among the country’s most popular locations for visitors. Among these are Corfu, Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini, known well for their beautiful white and blue architecture, gorgeous beaches and ancient ruins.
Corfu has been prized for its beauty and strategic location since the 8th century BC and was originally named Kerkyra. The island has lovely beaches and coves, as well as a rugged interior, with cypress forests, quaint villages and more. Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands and is lined with beaches, ancient history and wooded valleys. The island is perfect for lazing on the beach or diving in the crystal-clear waters. However, the traditional Old Town is also a strong attraction with its maze of cobbled streets.
Mykonos is known as the glamour island of Greece and offers a sizzling party reputation, as well as the beautiful, whitewashed Cycladic maze and a wonderful café and bar boutique scene. Meanwhile, Santorini is a truly gorgeous island with sheer cliffs soaring above the turquoise water. Perched high on those cliffs are the main villages of Oia and Fira, with their clean, white Cycladic houses. Santorini also boasts some of the best sunsets in all of Greece, as well as hiking trails, great restaurants and wineries.
Mitsotakis said in a statement, “We are giving our islands priority… by opening up vaccination of their entire adult population earlier than the rest of Greece.”
“My message is clear. We are open again,” he added.
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