Greece throws open its Beaches for Holidaymakers in a bid to Kick-Start its Tourist Season

For the first time in months, Greece has allowed people back onto its beaches and expects them to full when the country opens up to tourism on July 1.

GREECE reopened its beaches to eager locals today ahead of the country’s hugely-popular tourist season this summer, a destination favoured by British holidaymakers – Greece was put on a six-week lockdown in March in a bid to slow the spread of deadly coronavirus.

Businesses were shut as soon as the country recorded its first Covid-19 death and travel to the islands, such as Mykonos and Santorini, was restricted. But organised beaches – those with ticketed entrances and organised sunbeds – reopened today following official advice.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the ‘best-case scenario’ is for Greece to ‘open for business’ from foreign travellers on July 1. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said Greece is ‘at a better starting point than other countries to receive a large number of tourists’ but stressed this summer would not be like the last.

Other tourist resorts are expected to open on June 8, Greek Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Thursday. The government’s fast-acting regulations to slow the spread of the virus likely account for Greece having one of the lowest death rates in Europe.

It follows the announcement that normally year-round hotels and restaurants are to resume operation in Greece on June 1 – but with strict distancing rules applied.