Greece bans Britons from going on holiday in the country when it reopens its borders on June 15 due to high level of UK coronavirus cases

• Citizens of 29 countries will be allowed to travel to Greece from June 15
• Britain not named as one of the countries due to high number of Covid-19 cases
• UK currently has more than 269,000 cases and 37,837 people have died  
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

Greece has banned Britons from going on holiday there when it reopens its borders on June 1.

While citizens of 29 other countries will be allowed to travel when Greece’s airports reopen to tourists on June 15, the UK’s number of coronavirus cases is still too high.  

A list published today has revealed Greece will allow tourists to travel from countries including Australia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Lebanon.

But Britain’s number of coronavirus cases and deaths are not low enough for the country to consider allowing Briton’s in.

The UK currently has 269,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, while 37,837 people have died from the deadly disease. 

While citizens of 29 other countries will be allowed to travel when Greece’s airports reopen to tourists on June 15, the UK’s number of coronavirus cases is still too high. Pictured, Mykonos

The Greek Tourism Ministry said travellers from the permitted countries will be able to enter Greece on direct flights to Athens and to the northern city of Thessaloniki.

The list will be expanded on July 1 to include other countries, the ministry said.

Which countries will Greece allow in via direct flights from June 15? 

 Albania

Australia

Austria

North Macedonia

Bulgaria

Germany

Denmark

Switzerland

Estonia

Japan

Israel

China

Croatia

Cyprus

Latvia

Lebanon

New Zealand

Lithuania

Malta

Montenegro

Norway

South Korea

Hungary

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Czech Republic 

Finland

The 29 announced Friday are: Albania, Australia, Austria, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia, Japan, Israel, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lebanon, New Zealand, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, South Korea, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic and Finland.

Visitors arriving from those countries could be subject to sample coronavirus testing, the ministry said.

Greece imposed a lockdown early in its coronavirus outbreak, a move credited with limiting infections.

The country so far has a total of 175 deaths and just over 2,900 confirmed cases.

No cases have been detected on the vast majority of the Greek islands, which are popular vacation spots.

Tourism and related industries make up around 20 per cent of the Greek economy, and the government has been anxious to ensure the tourist season is not lost this year.

It comes after sunseekers flocked to Greek beaches and tourist spots when much of the country’s lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this week.

After months of stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus, Greece re-opened its famed museums and tourist destinations while relaxing restrictions on movement and shopping on the mainland.  

Athenians were able to gather to watch the sun set on Areopagus Hill, with the Lycabettus Hill in the background on the evening of Saturday, May 23. 

Athenians watch the sunset on Areopagus Hill, with the Acropolis in the background, on May 23,

People enjoy a day at Kavouri Beach on May 23 in Vouliagmeni, Greece. Greece reacted early to curb the spread of Covid-19 but the pandemic wreaked havoc for international travel, dealing a damaging blow to the country’s tourism sector

Others flocked to nearby beaches to enjoy the May sunshine and swim in the sea. 

People were seen enjoying a day out at Kavouri Beach, some 20km south of Athens, last weekend. 

Greece reacted early to curb the spread of Covid-19 but the pandemic wreaked havoc for international travel, dealing a damaging blow to the country’s tourism sector. 

Greece – a destination favoured by British holidaymakers – was put on a six-week lockdown in March in a bid to slow the spread of deadly coronavirus. 

Businesses were shut as soon as the country recorded its first Covid-19 death and travel to the islands, such as Mykonos and Santorini, was restricted. 

Athenians watch the sunset on Areopagus Hill, with the Lycabettus Hill in the background, on Saturday evening, above and below 

Athenians watch the sunset on Areopagus Hill, with the Lycabettus Hill in the background, on May 23

Cyprus will reopen its airports to commercial flights on June 9 but British tourists will be banned from entering the country

But organised beaches – those with ticketed entrances and organised sunbeds – reopened on May 16 following official advice.

Normally year-round hotels and restaurants are to resume operation in Greece on June 1 with strict distancing rules.    

Cyprus will reopen its airports to commercial flights on June 9 but British tourists will be banned from entering the country. 

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said that airports would reopen to commercial flights after nearly three months of lockdown. 

Britain and Russia are the island’s two largest tourist markets but both are not on the initial lists amid concerns has not been sufficiently contained in those countries.

Meanwhile, Spain has told foreign tourists that the country ‘will be waiting for them’ from July. 

Spain’s decision to open the holiday mecca in just over a month’s time comes a day after the UK government urged Britons not to book their holidays as they will be forced to quarantine for 14 days on their return. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has told foreign tourists that the country ‘will be waiting for them’ from July 

The holiday mecca will open up its borders in just over a month’s time giving hope to Britons wanting to spend the summer in the Costas. Pictured: A woman walks past a closed-off beach in Benidorm

Tourists and locals returned to bars and terraces in Benidorm after the government relaxed lockdown measures last week

Mr Sanchez told the nation earlier this week: ‘Spain receives each year more than 80 million visitors.

‘That’s why I’m announcing to you that from the month of July the entry of international tourism to Spain will restart in safety.

‘Foreign tourists can now start planning their holidays here.’

Whether Britons will choose to take advantage of Spain’s easing of lockdown remains to be seen.

The government’s strict quarantine regimen will come into force on June 8.

Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday previously confirmed that all arrivals to the UK must self-isolate for 14 days on landing. 

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