The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) awarded Greece a top international distinction for its global example for safely opening the country for tourism despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The "Global Champion Award for COVID-19 Crisis Management" was received by the Minister of Tourism Harry Theoharis at a special event during the WTTC's annual global conference which is being held this year in Cancun, Mexico.
Commenting on the award for Greece from the WTTC, Theoharis said: "I feel very honoured by this exceptional - and extremely substantial - distinction for Greece.
"I warmly thank the World Travel and Tourism Council for offering me the opportunity, in my capacity as Minister of Tourism, to receive this award on behalf of the Greek government, on behalf of my entire country.
"The 'Global Champion Award for COVID-19 Crisis Management' is awarded to the entire Greek tourism industry.
"The WTCC recognises the [immense effort] to which the employees, entrepreneurs and all those involved in the provision of tourism services have contributed, in an unprecedented success for Greece.
"We all managed to keep the national tourism product alive during a difficult period without precedent.
"And at the same time we have managed to keep alive the hope for millions of people around the world, proving in practice that health safety can be achieved.
"And safety can in turn make travel possible, even in a state of siege from the pandemic."
Greece already accepts tourists, with a vaccination certificate or a negative test no older than 72 hours before arrival, from across the EU and Schengen Zone, as well as the U.S., UAE, Israel, Serbia, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda and Singapore.
From May 15, Greece will accept all tourists, under the same conditions already outlined.
READ MORE: Mitsotakis: restaurants open on May 3, tourism and regional travel on May 15.
This post was last modified on April 27, 2021 7:30 pm
