Covid-19: Health Protocols for Greek Hotels and Flights to Greece Unveiled
May 9, 20, 10:05 am
#1
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Covid-19: Health Protocols for Greek Hotels and Flights to Greece Unveiled
Covid-19: Health Protocols for Greek Hotels and Flights to Greece Unveiled
Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis on Friday unveiled a number of rules included in the health protocols for tourism that have been created to be applied in all hotels in the country and on incoming flights once the tourism season begins in Greece in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.The protocols have been drafted by the Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Commission of EODY, Greeces public health organization, and will be submitted to tourism enterprises for consultation and the submission of proposals.
Following are some of the rules included in the health protocols as announced by the tourism minister:
For flights
For passengers to board a flight from abroad to Greece, they must have a valid health certificate that has been issued within the last 72 hours, stating that they are not carriers of the Covid-19 virus. Passengers without a health certificate, will not be allowed to board flights.There will be no empty seats on flights to, from and within Greece. The passenger capacity of all airplanes will be full in order to support airline companies.
Only packaged snacks will be served to passengers on flights with a duration of up to four hours.
Upon their departure from Greece, tourists will not be tested in order for them to avoid being quarantined in Greece.
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/05/09/covid...eece-unveiled/
May 9, 20, 11:49 am
#3
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Well that's it then. So it seems that there will be no flights for me for the rest of this year at least. No holiday is worth the hassle.
Very bad new for Aegean, but I agree it's better for a country to be strict rather than lapse. When I consider the difference between where I live (Slovakia) and my country of birth (UK) I know where I'd rather be at the moment.
Very bad new for Aegean, but I agree it's better for a country to be strict rather than lapse. When I consider the difference between where I live (Slovakia) and my country of birth (UK) I know where I'd rather be at the moment.
May 9, 20, 12:46 pm
#5
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Interesting developments. Some questions:
1. Will Greek citizens also have to produce a health certificate?
2. Will travelers on flights from the proposed travel corridor(Australia, NZ, Israel, Singapore, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Austria) need to produce a health certificate?
3. Will this allow flights from the US to resume?
Overall not feeling too optimistic about the efficacy of this, but I guess there aren't too many options right now.
1. Will Greek citizens also have to produce a health certificate?
2. Will travelers on flights from the proposed travel corridor(Australia, NZ, Israel, Singapore, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Austria) need to produce a health certificate?
3. Will this allow flights from the US to resume?
Overall not feeling too optimistic about the efficacy of this, but I guess there aren't too many options right now.
May 9, 20, 1:04 pm
#6
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,197
Is this plan the "final"? They were saying last week that they wanted to coordinate with the EU regarding such measures. Did they ask anyone else what they think of this plan? I find the idea of the 72h testing rule unreasonable and even stupid! First of all there's no way countries "supplying" tourists to Greece will grant millions of tests for such a reason! Secondly, one has to consider that taking the test in itself is a process that exposes you to a considerable amount of contamination risk. Not by the needle or others instruments of testing obviously, but you have to visit a (closed) space, where there's guaranteed to be quite a few carriers around you....!
Edit: OK, I now read it a bit more carefully..
I'm pretty sure the "plan" will change...
Who is supposed to check the health passport? The airlines at the departure airport? Greek authorities at the arrival airport? Who will verify the authenticity of such a dokument? Will English be mandatory? Will they require hospitals to be the issuers or also private doctors and labs? I still see no way to actually validate authenticity besides a passport-like dokument with biometrics or a chip solution, both of which will come at a considerable cost, a cost to be added on top of the costs of the test itself!
Let's say a number of pax make it to the Greek airport without such a dokument! What will the authorities do with them?
And what if the foreign authorities decide to impose the very same rules and require all incoming pax to be tested within 72h of their departure? If you ask me, they'd be right to do so! There are simply so many holes, loopholes dangers, impossibilities and costs to this idea it is insane to even lay it down as a plan.
Edit: OK, I now read it a bit more carefully..
will be submitted to tourism enterprises for consultation and the submission of proposals
Who is supposed to check the health passport? The airlines at the departure airport? Greek authorities at the arrival airport? Who will verify the authenticity of such a dokument? Will English be mandatory? Will they require hospitals to be the issuers or also private doctors and labs? I still see no way to actually validate authenticity besides a passport-like dokument with biometrics or a chip solution, both of which will come at a considerable cost, a cost to be added on top of the costs of the test itself!
Let's say a number of pax make it to the Greek airport without such a dokument! What will the authorities do with them?
And what if the foreign authorities decide to impose the very same rules and require all incoming pax to be tested within 72h of their departure? If you ask me, they'd be right to do so! There are simply so many holes, loopholes dangers, impossibilities and costs to this idea it is insane to even lay it down as a plan.
Last edited by giorginho; May 9, 20 at 1:29 pm
May 9, 20, 2:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
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If rapid testing isnt readily available, how on earth can one prove that they are not infected?
Also theyd rather have grounded planes as opposed to planes flying at 75% capacity?
The requirements are outright preposterous.
Also theyd rather have grounded planes as opposed to planes flying at 75% capacity?
The requirements are outright preposterous.
May 9, 20, 3:34 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
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What authorities need to understand at this point is that people are scared and/or wary of buying airplane tickets for a number of reasons. One of those reasons is the prospect of being stranded abroad, unable to get back home. Another is the prospect of the airline going bankrupt. Yet another is that the whole vacation and lots of money may go down the drain due to health requirements; very few will risk booking airplane tickets and hotel accommodation if they're not guaranteed of actually having a vacation. With the economy in a downward spiral, people will start hoarding money and cut down on spending.
So, if Greece (or any other country) wants to get at least some tourists, they will have to address these potential problems. They will either have to forego health requirements for tourists, or launch government guarantees to cover flights and hotel costs for any passenger who's denied boarding due to a lack of a health certificate or a high temperature reading. The current suggestion will simply mean empty airplanes.
And that's another problem in itself: Airlines won't fly if they don't have passengers, and passengers won't buy tickets unless they're certain that the airline will fly.
So, if Greece (or any other country) wants to get at least some tourists, they will have to address these potential problems. They will either have to forego health requirements for tourists, or launch government guarantees to cover flights and hotel costs for any passenger who's denied boarding due to a lack of a health certificate or a high temperature reading. The current suggestion will simply mean empty airplanes.
And that's another problem in itself: Airlines won't fly if they don't have passengers, and passengers won't buy tickets unless they're certain that the airline will fly.
May 9, 20, 4:31 pm
#9
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Do we know what a health certificate means in this context? Could it be as simple as a temperature check?
The blood tests that can be done cheaply/quickly don't show if the person is currently infected, while the full blown test that requires a sample from the nose is impossible to get pretty much anywhere. Especially if you are without symptoms nobody would give you such test. Even if they were, it would be expensive.. Private places doing the test are charging around 200 euros per test.
The blood tests that can be done cheaply/quickly don't show if the person is currently infected, while the full blown test that requires a sample from the nose is impossible to get pretty much anywhere. Especially if you are without symptoms nobody would give you such test. Even if they were, it would be expensive.. Private places doing the test are charging around 200 euros per test.
May 9, 20, 4:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2015
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Are there any specifcs about the healh certifcate? This could be as simple as a predrafted letter provided by the Greek Government/Airline online that a doctor has to sign, saying that the patient had no symptoms within the last xx days. And what about non-tourism-related flights, those for business? I read a few weeks ago, Greece was thinking about allowing certain EU-citizens to fly into Athens from 15 May. Does anyone have an update on that? I understand that the Governments are still discussing these matters at EU level, considering bilateral agreements if an agreement fails at EU level.
May 9, 20, 5:27 pm
#11
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Even if you get a certificate that says you are health T-72, you can still get infected anytime between the date of testing and the date of departure. Certificate or not.
This clearly is an idiotic scheme. Nobody in their right mind will visit Greece if this stands. Tourism industry will be finished off for good. I guess we will have another Greek Eurocrisis on our hands in a couple of months.
This clearly is an idiotic scheme. Nobody in their right mind will visit Greece if this stands. Tourism industry will be finished off for good. I guess we will have another Greek Eurocrisis on our hands in a couple of months.
May 9, 20, 6:06 pm
#12
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I expected worse, to be honest. The test requirement is likely to be here for quite some time for many destinations. It will make holiday slightly more expensive, but if I opt for Greece, I will be saving money just by the fact that I'm going to Greece (I normally prefer northern Europe in summer). That being said, I have an advantage of living in a location where getting a test is actually pretty easy (and my base airport even offers them right across the terminal). This may be different in other countries.
There is no face mask requirement, which is already better than many European airlines these days in terms of comfort (unless Aegan or whoever I fly with decides to introduce that rule on their own). For me this is a crucial thing.
The uncertainty factor can be solved if the travel industry reacts by offering fairly cheap flexible tickets and room rates for the season (or at least offering refunds for those who test positive). It's not like they're likely to run full hotels and flights anyway.
What I find important is that they didn't add too much nuisance to travel (personally, I consider test to be more of an administrative burden), so there is some motivation for people to travel. I was afraid they will make the experience so annoying, it just won't be worth it. For me Greece remains on the list for possible summer escapes (though in my case it would most likely be some of major cities rather than resorts, so a lot depends on how will Athens or Thesaloniki look at the time).
There is no face mask requirement, which is already better than many European airlines these days in terms of comfort (unless Aegan or whoever I fly with decides to introduce that rule on their own). For me this is a crucial thing.
The uncertainty factor can be solved if the travel industry reacts by offering fairly cheap flexible tickets and room rates for the season (or at least offering refunds for those who test positive). It's not like they're likely to run full hotels and flights anyway.
What I find important is that they didn't add too much nuisance to travel (personally, I consider test to be more of an administrative burden), so there is some motivation for people to travel. I was afraid they will make the experience so annoying, it just won't be worth it. For me Greece remains on the list for possible summer escapes (though in my case it would most likely be some of major cities rather than resorts, so a lot depends on how will Athens or Thesaloniki look at the time).
Last edited by the810; May 9, 20 at 6:14 pm
May 9, 20, 6:25 pm
#13
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Seems acceptable under the circumstances - not any different than getting some immunization docs or shots prior to certain travel...
There is no perfect solution near term for those who want travel to restart - this should provide some risk reduction... jul 1 date is encouraging - if they open to US tourists I'll consider going - tests should be fairly widely available by then...
There is no perfect solution near term for those who want travel to restart - this should provide some risk reduction... jul 1 date is encouraging - if they open to US tourists I'll consider going - tests should be fairly widely available by then...
May 10, 20, 1:30 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2014
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I expected worse, to be honest. The test requirement is likely to be here for quite some time for many destinations. It will make holiday slightly more expensive, but if I opt for Greece, I will be saving money just by the fact that I'm going to Greece (I normally prefer northern Europe in summer). That being said, I have an advantage of living in a location where getting a test is actually pretty easy (and my base airport even offers them right across the terminal). This may be different in other countries.
There is no face mask requirement, which is already better than many European airlines these days in terms of comfort (unless Aegan or whoever I fly with decides to introduce that rule on their own). For me this is a crucial thing.
The uncertainty factor can be solved if the travel industry reacts by offering fairly cheap flexible tickets and room rates for the season (or at least offering refunds for those who test positive). It's not like they're likely to run full hotels and flights anyway.
What I find important is that they didn't add too much nuisance to travel (personally, I consider test to be more of an administrative burden), so there is some motivation for people to travel. I was afraid they will make the experience so annoying, it just won't be worth it. For me Greece remains on the list for possible summer escapes (though in my case it would most likely be some of major cities rather than resorts, so a lot depends on how will Athens or Thesaloniki look at the time).
There is no face mask requirement, which is already better than many European airlines these days in terms of comfort (unless Aegan or whoever I fly with decides to introduce that rule on their own). For me this is a crucial thing.
The uncertainty factor can be solved if the travel industry reacts by offering fairly cheap flexible tickets and room rates for the season (or at least offering refunds for those who test positive). It's not like they're likely to run full hotels and flights anyway.
What I find important is that they didn't add too much nuisance to travel (personally, I consider test to be more of an administrative burden), so there is some motivation for people to travel. I was afraid they will make the experience so annoying, it just won't be worth it. For me Greece remains on the list for possible summer escapes (though in my case it would most likely be some of major cities rather than resorts, so a lot depends on how will Athens or Thesaloniki look at the time).
https://www.viennaairport.com/pcrtest
I think this is the year that people will learn that it is possible to actually have a reasonable holiday in their home country.
May 10, 20, 2:22 am
#15
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,452
Even worse, some pandemic experts claim that 99% of infected people are asymptomatic. So, for a family of four, there's a significant risk that at least one of them is positive, and they won't be allowed to fly.
