Hope on the Horizon

The upcoming tourism campaign to promote Greece abroad is expected to be ready by the end of March, the secretary general of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Dimitris Fragakis, said on Tuesday. Fragakis said that Greece is depending on a high percentage of last minute bookings to boost tourism’s recovery this year, adding that he expects recovery to begin after the Easter holiday in May. “If all goes well, towards the end of May we will see the first recovery of Greek tourism. This year will be a better year overall compared to 2020 … Last minute bookings will be much more this year than pre-scheduled bookings,” he said. (Source: Greek Travel Pages)

Meanwhile for Attika (therefore Hydra) the current hard lockdown is extended to 06:00, March 8, 2021. So no pleasure travel, wearing masks at all times, social distancing, bars/restaurants/cafes remain closed, retail shops/museums, etc still closed and restrictions still in place.

Throughout the winter 20/21 lockdown, travel has been permitted but only for emergency and essential reasons. Anyone entering the country is required to have a negative CoVid test, passenger locator form and has been and still is required to self-isolate for 7 days. For specific details please see Destination Greece Health First.

Up to the end of February, there have been 4 confirmed cases of CoVid on Hydra Island. All were isolated and contacts followed up. Control and health care on Hydra has been good. However, cases on mainland Attika at the moment are still too high, hence the hard lockdown being extended by another week.

Vaccinations in Greece have been speeding up since started at the beginning of 2021. By February 27, 2021, 914,336 vaccinations have been carried out. (See the Greek Government Appointment site Emvolio). Specifically on Hydra, residents of 60+ have been invited to attend clinics at Kranidi or Galatas to start their vaccinations. However, many of the island's older generation have opted to lockdown in Athens this winter and so have been vaccinated there. The remaining over 60's on the island signed up (during the week 15 - 22nd Feb via a dedicated line organised by the Municipality), to be 'mass' vaccinated at the same time by a special team who will visit the island. As of yet, a date for the mass Hydra vaccination of over 60's has not been announced.

Rumours of vaccinations being compulsory for travellers coming into Greece has been refuted by the Greek Government. Yes, the Prime Minister has been pushing for a standardised vaccination travel certificate but he has publicly stated that though it may make it easier to process travellers through entry points, it is not a mandatory requirement.

Greece as always, is putting health & safety first, not just of its own people but for visitors. In spite of the changes that have been put in place, when you come for your next holiday, you will still be greeted with the familiar warmth and friendliness, but from now on, with extra care for your well-being.

I hope that Mr Fragakis is correct and the country will open for tourism immediately after Pascha. However, on Hydra, visitors have been provisionally booking their accommodation, intending to confirm closer to their time of travel. Many holiday rentals for the high season are already full. Thinking positively, I suggest that visitors don't leave it much longer to enquire about accommodation so they're not disappointed.

I will continue to update my Covid Alerts and Travel Requirements pages as things change but please remember to cross reference with your country of origin and travel operators requirements too.

Keep safe, keep well and keep your fingers crossed for 2021.