U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) submitted into the Congressional Record the American Hellenic Institute’s (AHI) written testimony to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on the Biden Administration’s foreign aid proposal for FY2022.
The contract for the northern part of the E65 highway will be signed tomorrow, as announced by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Costas Karamanlis, speaking to Parapolitika 90.1 FM. "A very big effort has been made in the last 23 months, we have worked intensively to unblock projects that we found "stuck". In fact, the contract for the northern part of the E65, which is close to 442 million euros, will be signed tomorrow," he said.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined three "key initiatives", as he characterized them, on the agenda of the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday via teleconference.
On May 14, Greece opened its borders in a safe and attainable manner.
In the paragraphs follow, the Civil Protection Agency provides a step-by-step guide on how to prepare before travelling to Greece as of May 14th.
These guidelines are in place to ensure the protection of your health, as well as the health of your loved ones and all those involved in offering you a safe hospitality experience:
- As of May 14th, travelers arriving in Greece are required to have either a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory, for a Covid-19 test taken no later than 72 hours before arrival or a negative antigen (rapid) certificate taken no longer than 48 hours before arrival.
This test is mandatory for all tourists (including children over the age of 12), regardless of the epidemiological situation in the country of departure.
- Proof of a negative test is not required however for all travelers that have completed their vaccination (i.e., 14 days have elapsed since the last vaccination, depending on the doses required) and hold a vaccination certificate.
Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm among others.
- Proof of a negative PCR test is not required if the traveler was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 2 to 9 months. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
- Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening. If you are selected, please keep in mind that the screening is mandatory. In case of refusal, authorities reserve the right to refuse entry into the country. The selection is made through a targeted sampling system ”EVA” used also in the summer of 2020.
- Important clarification: Entry of tourists in Greece is not subject to vaccination. Presenting a vaccination certificate greatly facilitates the procedures upon arrival. However, in no case is a vaccination or antibodies certificate considered a "passport".
- The countries from which entry is allowed, under the aforementioned conditions, without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation are: EU & Schengen Area countries, USA, UK, Albania, Australia, Bahrein, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Montenergro*, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, Ukraine.
* For Montenegro, passengers must carry both a vaccination certificate and a negative PCR certificate from a testing laboratory, for a COVID-19 test taken no later than 72 hours before arrival.
- Non EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.
Passengers are allowed to enter the country through all international airports and the ports of Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu.
Travellers are allowed to enter from the land borders through the entry gates of Promachonas and Ormenio in a 24h basis and Evzonoi and Nymfaia from 07:00 to 23:00.
Cruising and yachting is allowed. Maritime connections with Turkey are temporarily restricted.
REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITORS
Before arrival:
- Tourists must fill in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) no later than 23:59 (11.59 PM) of the day before arriving in Greece. For more information, please click here.
Prior to departure, all travelers must ensure that they carry an acceptable form of certification of their health condition. Acceptable documents include:
- A negative PCR molecular test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 72 hours before entry.
- A negative antigen (rapid) test result from a laboratory; the test must be taken up to 48 hours before entry.
- A vaccination certificate issued by a certified authority.
- A certificate of recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory.
- Proof that the traveler was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 2 to 9 months. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
All certificates must include the critical information (i.e. number of doses and their respective dates) in English, German French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and the person’s full name must match the name on the passport or any other recognized travel document.
Upon arrival:
Travelers arriving in Greece are subject to:
- Sampling RAPID antigen tests at the entrance gates for selected individuals drawn from a targeted sampling system, based on the ”EVA” system.
- Mandatory isolation if they test positive for SARS-Cov-2, following a sampling test. In this case, the travelers and their travel companions are accommodated in quarantine hotels, where they will undergo further PCR testing to confirm the initial diagnosis. Guests will stay in seclusion hotels for a maximum of 10 days. The expenses of the accommodation in quarantine hotels are covered by the Greek state.
Compliance with the health protocols during transport and throughout your entire stay in Greece is the key factor that will allow all of us to stay safe and return to normality.
We appreciate your understanding and apologize in advance for any additional inconvenience.
We extend a warm thank you for the cooperation, and for choosing our country for your holidays.
We look forward to welcoming you to Greece.
Greece is ready to welcome visitors applying advanced health protection protocols. In 2021, Greek Tourism is ready to operate with the maximum safety possible, for tourists, employees and every person involved in the provision of tourist services.
Isolation (quarantine) for visitors from abroad is no longer required. However, entry into Greece will be allowed under the following conditions:
A. Travelers must have one of the following:
- Vaccination certificate issued by an appropriate body in the traveler's country of origin.
- Instead of a vaccination certificate, travelers are required to show either a negative PCR test conducted up to 72 hours before traveling or a negative antigen (rapid) test conducted up to 48 hours before traveling.
- Alternatively, the traveler can show proof that was tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 2 to 9 months. This can be proved either by presenting a positive PCR molecular or an antigen test result performed by an authorized laboratory or a medical certificate confirming that the holder was tested positive with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection.
B. All visitors must complete the electronic PLF document at least 24 hours before traveling.
C. Upon entering Greece, visitors may undergo targeted tests. In the event of a positive result, travelers will be temporarily accommodated in an isolation hotel, free of charge. If a positive incident is detected following a sampling test at the land borders, then entry into the country may not be allowed.
Employees in the Greek tourism sector are vaccinated with the general population, according to government planning. Until their vaccination, all employees are obliged to undergo tests twice per week (self-test or rapid test). Furthermore, they are encouraged to test even more frequently, in order to ensure timely isolation.
Acceptable vaccines are: Pfizer BioNtech, Moderna, Astra Zeneca/Oxford, Novavax, Johnson + Johnson/Janssen, Sinovac Biotech, Gamaleya (Sputnik), Cansino Biologics, Sinopharm among others.
As of May 14th, flight restrictions from EU countries will be lifted, as well as from a number of other countries. Quarantine will not be required.
Furthermore, our country welcome flights at all international airports.
Travelers are allowed to enter through the entry gates of Promachonas and Ormenio in 24H basis and Evzonoi and Nymfaia from 07:00 to 23:00.
As of 14/5/21 the quarantine is lifted for passengers who arrive by ferry to the main port entrances (Patra, Igoumenitsa, Corfu). Maritime connections with Turkey are restricted.
During their stay in Greece, visitors must follow all measures that apply to Greek citizens.
In all tourist activities, tourist transport and tourist visits to other places of interest, the same protocols as those in 2020 will apply, with some small adjustments. These protocols have proved effective, and will be updated according to epidemiological conditions. The Ministry of Tourism and the Hotel Chamber of Greece will provide certification to all lodgings that apply these protocols. Moreover, training material will be provided to the employees of these businesses, in order to ensure the correct application of all health and safety measures against Covid-19.
The plan for the opening of Greek Tourism provides for the existence of specific isolation (quarantine) hotels near each entrance gate, as well as in other strategic points nationwide. This way, an adequate safety net for case management will be in place, combined with an early detection upon the arrival of tourists from abroad. The cost for the isolations hotels are covered by the Greek state.
Only children under the age of 12 will not be required to undergo a PCR test.
The departure and arrival of yachts (except those coming from Turkey) is allowed with some restrictions, while the same terms and conditions will apply both for Greek and foreign citizens
From May 14th, cruise restrictions are completely removed, always enforcing very strict protocols that are applied to these activities.
It is possible to perform PCR or antigen tests directly at the place where each guest stays, if the guest needs a test for returning home. This makes it easier for every tourist to be consistent with his/her obligations in order to safely return to his/her country.
SKY express connects Heraklion with 11 popular domestic and European destinations creating bridges throughout Greece with destinations abroad. It upgrades the position of the historic city and of Crete as a whole as a key node of its network and actively contributes to the further development of the island nationally and internationally.
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook the island of Nisyros at 1.14 am on Tuesday. The tremor occured 24 km south-southwest of Nisyros, the Dodecanese, the Geodynamics Institute of National Observatory of Athens said.
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Institute (EMSC) estimated that the quake had a magnitude of 5.9 and occurred at a small focal depth of about 2 km.
It is not yet known if there were any casualties or damage from the quake.
Ahead of the turnover of shares of Hellinikon Project to Lamda Development on June 25, the latter said this past week it will initiate a series of online presentations detailing progress on the project, the largest urban renovation plan in Europe.
The probability of myocarditis or pericarditis after being vaccinated with mRNA vaccines is extremely small, professor of Health Policy Elias Mosialos of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) points out in a Facebook post.
Dozens of models paraded on Thursday in Kallimarmaro, wearing the creations of the French house Dior. The long-awaited event started as scheduled at 9:30 pm.
Celebrities from the fashion industry were present and rebroadcast the event from their mobile phones. The catwalk consisted only of women who presented the clothes of the Cruise 2022 collection.
The predominant color was white and most of the designs stood out through their simplicity. More eccentric designs were not missing from the fashion show.
Maria Grazia Chiuri known for her feminist stance could not choose another country other than Greece for her collection, a country that has honored women since antiquity.
This year’s cruise collection uniquely combines the ancient Greek elements with futuristic ones and handed us a collection that revives the Olympic spirit in the best way!
The collection was full of beautiful ancient Greek goddess dresses. The ancient Greek dress is Maria Grazia Chiuri’s favorite outfit, not for the femininity it has but for the freedom it gives, and today she adored it with a collection dedicated to it. Today she combined them wonderfully with the Olympic spirit and with her favorite sneakers.
The tone was set by the Symphony Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens, while the impressive catwalk “closed” with sparklers and all the models on the track of the Panathinaikos Stadium.
Dior’s show ended with the models appearing together in the Kallimarmaro for the final catwalk, while Ioanna Gika sang with the accompaniment of strings.
At that moment, the Attic sky was filled with fireworks which marked the end of a fashion festival.
The event was attended by the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the PM’s wife Mareva Grabovski-Mitsotaki, the Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni, the Minister of Tourism Haris Theocharis, Gianna Angelopoulou and French actress Catherine Deneuve. Among the four hundred guests were internationally renowned models and actors as well as Greek fashion designers.
In the coming days, the house of Dior will take photos at the archeological sites of Herodeion, the Ancient Agora, Nemea, and Sounio. For this event, the house worked closely with Greek archaeologists and the competent local authorities to ensure respect and the full and unconditional preservation of the site.
As the people of the fashion house point out, this unique event further strengthens the valuable and creative ties between Dior and Greece.
“We welcome the president of the European Commission at a historic moment for Europe and Greece. It is, I believe, the last act of the turmoil caused by the pandemic and the first of a new era,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday, at an event to present the actions planned for the national Recovery and Resilience Plan ‘Greece 2.0’ in the Ancient Agora, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
EOT has put under its auspices two events that contribute to the promotion of sports tourism and the promotion of Cretan gastronomy in the context of the Organization's support in events that enrich the Greek tourism product and promote the alternative forms of tourism offered by Greece.
American Hellenic Institute (AHI) President Nick Larigakis submitted written testimony to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs on the Biden Administration’s foreign aid proposal for FY2022 on June 11, 2021.
The Greek economy is waiting to see a recovery through EU funds and the arrival of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Athens will give the "green light" for the immediate start of the implementation of the national program "Greece 2.0".
The presentation of the "Made In Greece" collection of the international Haute Couture House Dior will take place live tonight all over the world.