(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, 01 AUG - Greece on Saturday reopened
six of its main ports to cruise ships for the first time in the
coronavirus-shortened tourism season, but no ships are expected
before three weeks. In a letter to the Cruise Lines
International Association and three major cruise operators early
this week, Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis said the ports of
Piraeus in Athens, Rhodes, Iraklio, Volos, Corfu and Katakolo
would accept passengers, state agency ANA reported. After
docking at one of the six ports, cruise ships will be able to
travel elsewhere in Greece, depending on local coronavirus
conditions. But shipping minister Giannis Plakiotakis said on
Thursday that cruises would only restart after August 20. He
said foreign cruise lines had expressed their interest in
operating in Greek waters but that "cruises are an international
operation and face serious problems because of the coronavirus".
With a quarter of the economy dependent on tourism, Greece has
sought to capitalise on its relatively low infection rate to
bring in visitors. (ANSA-AFP). (ANSA).
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