Greece’s Tourism Ministry on Thursday announced the closure of Greece’s year-round hotels through to end-April, which will be effective as of midnight, March 23. The measure aims to protect the staff from the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry said in a statement.
The only hotel exceptions include:
- One hotel per capital in each Regional Unit
- Three hotels in Athens
- Three in Thessaloniki
The Association of Hoteliers in Athens-Attica and Argosaronic sent a letter to the Tourism Ministry, expressing the need for the immediate establishment of a special “temporary” or “emergency” status.
“At the moment, however, we need the unequivocal support of the State against the total disaster that has occurred, turning Athens from one night to the next into a ghost city,” the Association noted.
All flights to and from Greece to be suspended
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to announce the suspension of all passenger flights to and from Greece, in a televised address.
Many airlines have already implemented drastic cuts to flight schedules, but as of Sunday Greece will also impose a lockdown to international flights.
Speaking to Skai TV, State minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said that the ban on international flights “is a measure under consideration.”
Read More: Greece closes borders to all non-EU citizens
On Tuesday afternoon, Greece announced that all non-Greeks or EU citizens will not be allowed to enter Greece.
“Citizens of non-EU countries will not be allowed to enter our country from 6am tomorrow, except for an absolutely necessary condition related exclusively to emergency work or family,” Hardalias said, noting that foreigners would be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The deputy minister did not specify how long the international border will be closed for. With Greece’s summer season approaching, being it’s most popular tourism period, it is unknown when or if Australian citizens will be able to visit Greece this summer.
Sourced by: Ekathimerini
