Greece, Cyprus, Israel to Create a Joint Safe Tourism Zone
Greece, Cyprus and Israel are considering setting up a “corona corridor” as a common effort to revive the tourism sector which has been highly affected by the pandemic.
The move comes in an effort to attract tourists who under certain circumstances are not willing to travel far in the coming months, but might be more open to visiting neighbouring countries, according to Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin,
According to Greek’s Tourism Minister Harris Theoharis, several details still have to be worked out, ” but when we knocked on Israel’s door, it opened wide open. The interest is there; so too with Cyprus.”
“It is an ambitious scheme that could square the circle,” Theoharis pointed out in a pronouncement.
However, there are several obstacles regarding the implementation of the three countries’ plan. The main obstacle is the mandatory quarantine for arrivals from abroad, as Israel requires two weeks of isolation after travelling abroad.
Theoharis stressed that another issue is that Greece and Cyprus are both EU member states that have open borders with the rest of the Schengen Area under normal circumstances. After Cyprus, Greece is considered the European Union’s most vulnerable country regarding the tourism sector.
The tourism industry generates a total of 10 per cent of economic output (GDP), in the European Union. In Greece or Malta, the share of the travel industry in GDP is even higher at 20-25 per cent, while in Spain, it is estimated that it generates about €145 billion ($157 billion) in the tourism sector. German hotels and tour operators generate around €240 billion a year, according to the EU Commission.
The EU Commission has estimated that, during this year, the travel industry is expected to drop in bookings of package tours of up to 70 per cent, while cruise companies will be hit the hardest, with a 90 per cent loss.
