.Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theocharis told the Guardian that although the government’s ambition remains open to foreign tourists from May 14, arrivals from specific countries at some of the country’s airports will be allowed from next month.

Speaking to the correspondent of the British newspaper in Athens, Mr. Theocharis said that moves are needed to prepare the industry for the opening. “When I mentioned the start date of May, I said that we would gradually lift the restrictions in an effort to test the temperature,” the Greek minister said.

Giving more details, he said that “sometime in mid-April” the country will be ready to receive visitors from Britain and other countries with high vaccination rates. This pilot program will be implemented at the busiest airports from abroad, such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu and Heraklion.

Mr Theocharis’ announcement comes a day after the British government presented a proposal to renew the pandemic restrictions by the end of June.

Among them is a fine of 5,000 pounds for anyone who is found to be trying to make a leisure trip abroad under the pretext of.

The list of reasons justifying travel abroad, in addition to work and medical reasons, includes, but is not limited to, education, attending a funeral or a relative’s wedding, as well as “buying, selling or renting a home”. It is a term that has been derogatory termed the “Stanley Johnson clause”, linked to last year’s trip to his villa in Pelion, a trip in the middle of a pandemic that had been criticized.

The new rules will be voted on Thursday by the House of Commons and will take effect next Monday. As Boris Johnson announced yesterday, the decisions for international travel will be announced on April 5, a week earlier than originally announced.

Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Theocharis praised the progress of the vaccination program in Britain and said that technical talks were under way with the British government on the so-called vaccination certificate that would allow smooth movement between the two countries.

“All that is needed is to exchange information on how the validity of these documents will be confirmed and there seems to be a willingness on both sides,” the tourism minister said.

Asked about warnings from British politicians about the risk of traveling to Europe due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Mr. Theocharis noted that scientists believe that with the progress of the vaccination program and better weather conditions the epidemiological picture will be “much better »Until mid-May.