Greeks lament ban on British tourists as flights resume from rest of Europe

As European holidaymakers begin flying to Greece today, Greeks are lamenting the absence of British tourists, who have been banned until at least July 15 because of the UK's high rate of coronavirus infection.

For the first time in months, more than 100 flights from all over Europe are expected to bring holidaymakers to Greece’s sun-baked islands today but Britons will not be among the passengers.

Greece blocked most flights three months ago as part of a nationwide lockdown and was successful in containing the coronavirus outbreak, with less than 200 deaths and just 3,400 infections.

Britons, Swedes, Americans and Russians are among the nationalities that are not being allowed into the country because of their troubling Covid-19 situations.

But hundreds of flights from the rest of Europe will land today at airports across Greece, from Zakynthos and Santorini to Rhodes and Mykonos.

Greek tour operators fear a huge economic hit as a result of the ban because the British make up one of Greece's most important tourist markets.

The owner of a boutique hotel in the historic centre of Rhodes Town, on the island of Rhodes, said she will be hit hard by the ban on British tourists.

Efi Dede, who owns the Marco Polo Mansion guesthouse and restaurant, said around 40 per cent of her clientele is normally British.

“There’s a huge impact because we work a lot with British people. We are still empty, even though Greece has opened the borders to some nationalities. I reopened on June 15 and just two rooms have been booked. For me it’s a big tragedy,” she told The Telegraph.

Although they need the revenue, many Greeks are fearful of the tourists’ arrival. After a decade of austerity, the Greek public health system is ill-equipped to deal with a major coronavirus outbreak, particularly on the islands.

“It’s nothing personal. We love the British, for many years they have been our best guests. Let’s hope this nightmare will end,” said Ms Dede.

One of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers is the Ionian island of Corfu.

"Corfu is heavily dependent on the British market, so the sooner we are able to open up our island and the Ionian in general safely, the better it will be for the economy and the difficult winter ahead,” said Babis Voulgaris, president of the Hotel Association of Corfu.

“We understand the situation is changing every day but we hope that very soon we'll be able to welcome Brits who love Corfu and on whom we depend so much".

Greece has suspended all flights from Britain until July 15, extending a ban which was due to have been lifted today.

“From a business standpoint, the decision to recall flights from Britain affects us negatively but we can understand that it happens for reasons of public health, so we have to comply with the directives,” said a spokesman for a travel agency on Rhodes, Gem Travel. Last year, around 20 per cent of the company’s clients were British.

“If flights continue to be recalled after July 15 for two weeks or a month more, it will be a major problem because then the season will be lost. “Schools in the UK will obviously open early in September, which means that families have the chance to visit Rhodes until August 31. If the whole of July is lost, then only one month remains and come September, only British visitors without families and children will be able to come.”

Some British tourists had cancelled their holidays altogether while others hope to postpone them until later in the summer.

“The British market is the number one market for Rhodes. The island receives 400-420,000 British visitors every year. Now, in the best-case scenario we are hoping for 20 per cent of them to come. But it does not seem very likely at the moment," he said.

Last year, Greece earned €18 billion from tourism but operators say this year a more realistic goal is around €5 billion.