Yorgos Karahalis
On the island of Milos, for example, and other Greek islets, vaccination rates of up to 90 percent could be achieved in the coming weeks – not least because people live from tourism, as Konstantinos Makris, head of the local health center, told the dpa news agency.
The tourism industry normally contributes almost 20 percent to Greek economic output – and last year it collapsed by more than 75 percent due to Corona. The only solution seems to be to fight the virus. “We have really done everything for the safety of both residents and guests,” says Dimitris Moraitis from the Milos Island Hotel Association.
Medic Makris is one of his most important allies. He has been implementing the special vaccination program for the Greek islands decided by the government on Milos for weeks. Athens had given all islanders a vaccination offer in order to lure tourists as well. Only large islands like Crete with its around 600,000 inhabitants are excluded – there, like on the mainland, priority is given according to age and previous illness.
“The demand from citizens is enormous,” says doctor Makris. “I assume that by mid-June more than 90 percent of the island’s inhabitants over the age of 18 will be vaccinated.” Around 5,000 people live on Milos and, according to Makris, around 300 are vaccinated every day. Other islands are making similarly good prognoses and are even finished with their vaccination programs even earlier, reports the Greek media.
Last year, the number of guests on Milos fell by more than half, says restaurateur Vassilis Papikinos. It was only thanks to the government’s financial support that taverns, hotels and shops survived, he says. The bookings are currently still well below the value before Corona, adds hotelier Moraitis.
One reacts to it with a “very elastic rebooking and cancellation policy”. He is hopeful that Germany has abolished the quarantine requirement for those returning to Greece this week. “That is extremely important for us.”
Nevertheless, Greeks and guests will have to adhere to a number of Corona requirements in the future. In Greece, for example, at the start of the season there is still a nocturnal exit ban from 0.30 a.m. to 5.00 a.m. The tables and loungers in taverns, cafes and on serviced beaches must also be set far apart. Entry is only possible with a current PCR test or a vaccination that has been completed for at least two weeks.