Greece back on tourist map, with 230 flights landing on Day 1

Greek tourism is off to a great start. More than 230 flights landed in Greece on Wednesday, as the country reopened to tourists after four months of lockdown.

According to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Administration (HCAA), Athens and Crete’s Heraklion airports had the most arrivals with 69 and 54 respectively, followed by Thessaloniki (23), Corfu (21), Chania (16), Rhodes (14), Mykonos (10), Kos (eight), Santorini (four), Skiathos, Aktio, Kefalonia, Samos (two each), and lastly, Kalamata Paros, and Karpathos (one each).

Heraklion airport welcomed its first full flight from Hannover with live traditional Cretan music, Greek Travel Pages (GTP) reported. The island is expecting some 4,000 passengers today on flights from Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Poland.

“Every week we will monitor the tourist flows. If the first visitors who arrive are happy and feel safe, they will be our best ambassadors. We want them to be satisfied because their own positive impressions will give a further impetus,” said Heraklion Airport Manager George Pliakas, as reported by the Athens News Agency (ANA).

On Rhodes, meanwhile, one of Greece’s largest islands, travellers were welcomed with dance performances and local treats. The island is expecting tourists from Germany, Holland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic in the coming days.

Earlier on Wednesday, the first passenger ferry from Italy also arrived at the port of Patra.

“We are optimistic and confident that the Greek tourist product is here and upgraded. We will be ready to act on any problem that arises,” said Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis during his inspection visit to Corfu airport as the first international flight arrived on the island.