Has the list of nations been published whose citizens will be permitted to enter Greece?
In the past 24 hours since the Greek Minister of Tourism Haris Theoharis made the announcement about Greece’s reopening, we’ve received more than 300 emails from readers asking for clarification.
We have requested an official list from the Greek Ministry of Tourism but have not heard back.
Various media have speculated and announced certain “lists” of nations but none of these lists have been substantiated from an official government source as of yet.
Skai News in Greece mentioned 19 countries during its evening broadcast of May 19. Their list included countries such as China but excluded Germany.
Skai News reported an “approved list” of the following 19 countries: Cyprus, Israel, China, Japan, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The mention of China in Skai News’ report generated negative comments on social media. Dozens of users commented about the country’s “untrustworthy” data which it shared with the World Health Organization. The users also mentioned Greek health authorities’ inability to determine the status of countries such as China whose data has generated skepticism from experts.
Another source, Capital.gr, claimed in a report that a list of 20 countries has been submitted for review by Greece’s health officials. The officials will review the list based on each country’s infection and death rates.
Unlike Skai News’ list, the list on Capital.gr does include Germany. Their list includes Germany, Cyprus, Israel, China, Japan, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Adding to the confusion, state-run ERT News published shorter list of countries in its evening news on May 21. This list includes countries from which flight passengers would be allowed to enter Greece during the country’s first phase of re-opening. The list included Cyprus, Israel, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Norway, Poland, Denmark, Hungary and Albania.
These disparate reports were picked up and republished as factual by various news portals, including many that serve diaspora communities worldwide. The reports did not include official sources, further adding to confusion.
NOTE: The Pappas Post will only publish additional information after receiving official notifications from the Greek government. This remains our policy with such sensitive information which directly affects people’s travel plans. We emailed the press office at the Greek National Tourist Organization for clarification but have not received a response.
Stay updated with official information here
Is The Pappas Post worth $5 a month for all of the content you read? On any given month, we publish dozens of articles that educate, inform, entertain, inspire and enrich thousands who read The Pappas Post. I’m asking those who frequent the site to chip in and help keep the quality of our content high — and free. Click here and start your monthly or annual support today. If you choose to pay (a) $5/month or more or (b) $50/year or more then you will be able to browse our site completely ad-free!
Click here if you would like to subscribe to The Pappas Post Weekly News Update
1 comment
The Greeks that think the tourist economy is going to return any time soon are living in a fantasiland.
We should be using the current economic disaster, as an opportunity to move our economy away on dependence on low skilled tourism towards high tech industries which boosts productivity and creates far better standard than aiming for goat herder banana republic economics.
What made ancient Greeks greek wasn’t their love of opening cheap hotels and restaurants. It was their love of what we today call science. Any “Greek” that doesn’t care about science is about as “Greek” as a Skopian is “Macedonian”. Greek in name alone.