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The "Rhodes experiment" and the bet on tourism

Featured The "Rhodes experiment" and the bet on tourism

"To salvage the tourist season, Greece started an experiment under scientific guidance. 189 Dutch people were allowed to spend paid vacations in Rhodes," according to a report in Austrian newspaper Der Standard, which notes that "the Greek government wants to save the tourist season despite the high number of coronavirus cases." It is interesting that 25,000 people applied for participation in this pilot program.

"During the selection process, the Dutch government, in cooperation with state health authorities and travel agency Sunweb, took care to gather as heterogeneous a group of travelers as possible, in which, for example, all age groups are represented. In this way, safe conclusions could be drawn in the end," the report states, observing in another point: "The "Rhodes experiment", as this program has been christened, is accompanied by scientists, who observe the behavior of the vacationers: how often they wash their hands, if they keep their distance from each other, if they wear a mask. After their return, the vacationers will have to enter a five-day mandatory quarantine." In fact, according to the paper, it is interesting that a second, corresponding pilot program is imminent in May. This time in the Canary Islands, with an all-inclusive eight-day package.

Greece's plans to open tourism to visitors from foreign countries who have been vaccinated or tested for coronavirus starting next week, as part of a pilot program, was also mentioned by the n-tv television network. Among other things, it notes: "The coronavirus crisis with the travel restrictions imposed had a serious impact on Greek tourism, a sector on which Greece depends. Greece hopes to be able to stimulate tourism again quickly, with the tourist season officially opening in mid-May."