The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has forecast a strong recovery in tourism this summer. He said rapid vaccination campaigns in key markets like the UK and Israel will pave the way for tourists to return despite the current industry crisis.

Tourism, which accounts for about 20% of the Greek economy and employs one in five workers, collapsed last year as the coronavirus pandemic increased its revenue from 18 billion in 2019 to 4 billion euros ($ 4.8 billion) lowered.

Since last summer, when the pandemic subsided across Europe, the virus has increased, resulting in renewed lockdowns and travel restrictions, bringing the death toll in the region to over 750,000.

“I’m a realist, but I’m also cautiously optimistic that we will do a lot better than last year,” Mitsotakis told Reuters.

“Last year we were 20-25% of what we would have got in a regular year. If we got 50% of what a regular year would look like, it would still be 100% better than last year.”

Greece has created its own standard vaccination certificate and is pushing for an EU-wide certification system that could be electronic. There is still an EU debate about whether certificates should be required for cross-border travel.

Mitsotakis said certificates would not be mandatory for visitors this summer, but noted the UK and Israel were leading the way in introducing their vaccinations.

“Essentially, we are dependent on the vaccination rate in our main markets,” he said.

“For example, Israel is a very important market for Greece. When 70% of the Israeli population is vaccinated by the end of March, it will be easier to gradually open up to Israelis who have a real interest in travel.”

[Reuters]

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR