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.

Greece is thinking about recognizing the Sputnik V vaccine in order to open the green corridor for Russians vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Greek airline Ellinair, part of the international travel holding Mouzenidis Group, is resuming its flight program from Moscow to Greece, starting in March 2021. The program provides 4 points of arrival in Greece.

Greece has extended its entry permit for Russian tourists until February 22. As before, up to 500 tourists from the Russian Federation can visit the country per week.

Russia is resuming flights to two more countries. According to the decision of the headquarters for the fight against coronavirus, flights will be operated on a reciprocal basis from Russia to Greece and Singapore from February 8.

Greece has extended again the permit for Russians to enter the country with a quota of 500 people per week. This measure has been extended for another 2,5 weeks, from January 22 to February 8.

Aeroflot has opened the sale of tickets for flights, which are scheduled to be operated in the spring and summer to Greek cities.

Greece has reduced by three times the period of a mandatory quarantine for persons arriving in the country from abroad.

The second half of 2021 will be the time of the revival of tourism in Greece.

Greece has extended the quota on restricted entry of Russian citizens for another two weeks. According to sources, the Russian side is ready to support the initiative of the Greek authorities and resume air traffic on a bilateral basis.

The news of Greece's intention to open flights to Russia from September 7, even in a limited format, is catching the interest of tourists in the destination.