Tours for the autumn season, 2021, according to the observations of the tourist experts, are quite in demand. In general, the TOP-10 most popular foreign destinations for the autumn season this year, as per the data of tour operators, includes Turkey, UAE, Maldives, Greece, Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Abkhazia and Croatia.

The situation with fires in Greece remains tense, although most of the large outbreaks have already been taken under control and are taking place outside the tourist areas where Russians spend holidays.

The Russian Embassy in Greece calls on Russian tourists to refrain from visiting Greece in connection with the ongoing forest fires in the Balkan Peninsula.

Tour operators talk about a consistently positive trend in demand for Greece, stressing that an increase in sales is unlikely at the moment. The main problem has not been resolved - the lack of charter transportation.

The Greek authorities have accelerated the issuance of a QR code, and in Cyprus the cost of PCR tests for COVID-19, which Russian tourists undergo upon arrival, have significantly decreased.

From July 23, NordStar Airlines will start operations on the route Moscow - Araxos (Peloponnese Peninsula, Greece). Regular flights will be operated twice a week for the benefit of the tour operator Tez Tour.

All Russians entering Greece from June 30 are required to undergo an express test or PCR test for coronavirus at the border, until the results are received, they will be in the control zone at the entrance.

Greece has extended until July 3 the procedure for the entry of foreign citizens, including Russians.

The tour operator Tez Tour will send its clients to Crete, Rhodes and Corfu on the flights of Aegean Airlines and Ural Airlines.

In July, Aegean Airlines will begin transporting tourists from Moscow to Rhodes, Corfu and Heraklion.

Greece hopes for a gradual resumption of charter programs from Russia starting June 20, as the disease situation in the country improves every day.

The operational headquarters informed on the opening of air links with eight new countries. Once again, either little-demanded or closed for tourists destinations are opened. The number of flights to Egypt and Greece has increased.

The Ambassador of Greece to Russia Ekaterina Nassika "from day to day" expects a positive decision from the Russian side on the resumption of flights to Greece for tourists.

Greece has canceled quarantine for Russians who present a negative coronavirus test result or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate upon entering the country.

The date of the resumption of flights between Russia and Greece will be agreed next week. The decision will depend on the epidemiological situation in both countries.

Greece extended again the quota for the entry of 4 000 Russians per week until May 14.

if the situation develops favorably, the tour operator will launch charter flights to Crete from Moscow and Yekaterinburg, as well as to Corfu from Moscow, Rostov-on-Don and Kazan.

The range of countries where a tourist can go from April to June is significantly limited and there are few alternatives in terms of price / service ratio as in Turkey.

The Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis during his official visit to Moscow had a meeting with Russian Deputy Minister of Transportation responsible for tourism Dmitriy Zverev. The meeting was focused on the restart of air traffic between Russia and Greece. The ministers agreed to immediately proceed towards mutual recognition of paper vaccination certificates and to cooperation towards technical issues in recognition of certificates in digital form, issued in both countries. Theoharis said that Greece will also accept travellers vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. 

During meeting with Zarina Doguzova, the Head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, Theoharis focused on a number of issues involving the opening of the Greek tourism and the prerequisites for Russian travellers to enter Greece once the time comes. The minister informed that Russia is one of the countries from which travellers can visit Greece without restrictions (quarantine-free) as long as they either have been vaccinated, or have have antibodies, or have a negative PCR test, performed less than three days prior to arrival. “Greece will also accept travellers vaccinated with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine,” the minister said.

TUI Russia expects to send 300 000 Russian tourists to Greece in summer 2021, if the season starts as scheduled and air traffic is resumed without restrictions, the General Director of Tui Russia Taras Demura said on the meeting with Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis. “We hope that following the visit of Mr. Theocharis, all the necessary decisions will be taken both by Greek and Russian authorities. If, as expected, by May 14 air traffic between our countries will be resumed in full, then we will be able to send 300 000 tourists to Greek resorts, ” the general Director of Tui Russia Taras Demura said.

The Greek authorities have extended the quota for entry into the country to 4 000 Russians per week until April 19.

Flights and tourist traffic from Russia amidst pandemic (weekly update)

Russian tourists are actively interested in tours to Greece after the news about the opening of the destination on May 14, but there has not yet been a surge in real bookings.

Greece plans to fully open to Russian tourists from May 14 and expects up to 500 thousand Russians in 2021.