The Greek government has announced the phased restart of the country’s all important tourism sector by opening up the country to visitors from June, and supporting local businesses ahead of the traditional summer tourist season.

Accounting for roughly a quarter of the economy and as many jobs, Greece’s tourism sector welcomed more than 30 million international visitors last year and collected more than €16 billion in direct tourism receipts. But this year the industry will be deeply affected by the world- wide travel and health restrictions imposed in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

In late May, government officials rolled out a targeted economic package that provides employ- ment support and tax relief, as well as special financing, for Greek tourism-related enterprises. Those measures will extend over the next 3-4 months and supplement broader relief measures already in place for most Greek businesses and workers.

And starting in June, the government will allow hotels to re-open and international air travel to resume in stages. Ini- tially, Greece expects to cater to domestic tourists and visitors from nearby countries, such as Bulgaria and Cyprus that, like Greece, were quick to respond to the public health crisis. Visi- tors from another 18 countries, including Germany and China where outbreaks are receding, will also be among the first al- lowed to enter Greece as of June 15.

The government will also impose new random health checks on visitors and health protocols at tourism enterprises. There are also plans to increase health capacity in popular tourist destinations, particularly some of Greece’s smaller islands