Greece: Will the tourists come?

Published: June 12, 2020, 7:50 a.m.

As Greece prepares to reopen its beaches, tavernas and ancient monuments for the summer season, the country is anxious that few tourists will turn up, and those that do could bring the coronavirus back with them. Manuela Saragosa asks tourism minister Harry Theoharis whether his country is being reckless in opening up so quickly, having so successfully contained the virus within its own borders. Meanwhile Florian Schmitz reports from the island of Thassos, where many restaurants and cafes may not bother opening for the season as the demands of social distancing and the expected paucity of customers make it hardly worth the effort. Plus travel writer Simon Calder discusses how the coronavirus is likely to transform the character of tourism this season, and perhaps in the long-term too. (Picture: Empty sun chairs on a sandy Greek beach; Credit: mbbirdy/Getty Images)