Greece: a tourist season that promises to be flourishing after the lifting of Covid restrictions

A bather sits under an umbrella on the beach in Faliraki, a popular resort on the island of Rhodes in southeastern Greece, May 8, 2022. © AP - Thanassis Stavrakisb

Text by: Joël Bronner Follow

2 mins

In Greece, since this week, June 1, wearing a mask is no longer compulsory in enclosed spaces, with the exception of certain public transport.

This lifting of the last constraints relating to the fight against the coronavirus also marks, at the same time, the start of the high summer tourist season.

Because, in this country, tourism is a fundamental pillar of the country's economy.

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With our correspondent back from Mykonos, 

In Mykonos, which cultivates an image of luxury and celebration, and which is also a symbol of mass tourism,

,

, was able to discuss with several professionals from the " 

" sector, such as the Greeks often say.

In view of the known figures (reservations, number of transports that must pass through the island) the observation, on the spot, is unanimous: everyone expects a tourist season with even more visitors, and therefore also even more benefits than in 2019.

2019 is the year of the last “normal” tourist season, that is to say before the arrival of 

, which shortened the duration, here, of the last two seasons.

But 2019 was also, and above all, a record year for tourism in Greece.

Nearly 33 million visitors visited the country that year, including around 2 million who passed through the small island of Mykonos in the Cyclades.

Tourism, a pillar of the Greek economy

This 2022 tourist season is notably marked in Greece by the return of certain nationalities which had - so to speak - disappeared for two years, again due to the consequences of Covid-19, such as the Americans.

The Greek Minister of Tourism hopes to welcome nearly 500,000, thanks to the multiplication of air links between Athens and the United States.

Nine direct flights will connect the two countries this year.

To a lesser extent, Australians, deprived of travel for almost two years, should also return to the country.

Tourism is an essential pillar of the Greek economy;

one in five jobs depends on this sector.

So, to strengthen it, the authorities are seeking in particular to extend the time of the tourist season, starting for example in March, while at the same time promoting lesser-known destinations in the country.

To diversify ?

A diversification which would seem all the more salutary, as there is, in particular in the small Greek islands which are the most touristic, a big risk of saturation in the years to come.

For example, the monster traffic jams in Mykonos during the summer or, in Santorini, tourists packed like sardines facing the sunset over the sea, are not particularly dreamy.

Not to mention the enormous pressure on the infrastructure of these small islands – on water, pipes, roads or even waste management.

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