Greek special visas for Turkish citizens

Greece offers simplified entry to 10 Greek islands and special temporary visas to Turkish citizens.

How believes Euronews, this indicates a warming of relations between Athens and Ankara. The renewal of the visa regime with the neighboring country was officially announced by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The initiative was discussed at his meeting last December with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The new temporary visa entitles you to a week’s visit to ten islands in the Aegean Sea, closest to the Turkish coast: Kalymnos, Limnos, Leros, Kos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Symi and Kastellorizo. Mayor SymiLefterus Papakalodoukas says:

“We cooperate very well with the Turks in the fields of tourism and culture. Many people from Turkey come to Symi, mainly on yachts. About 1,400 boats used our port to access the island’s customs. This is a lot even for such a large island as Rhodes. So that this visa will greatly facilitate the task of Turkish tourists who want to visit our islands.”

Until now, Turkish citizens had to apply for entry documents at the Greek consulate in Izmir and then wait for a certain period for approval. They will now be able to undergo an expedited procedure upon arrival. Yiannis Papavasileou, head of the hotel owners association, notes:

“The number of tourists from Turkey will increase several times. They will be able to stay for a few days in our hotels, so the hotels will profit from this. The same goes for the local market. I think this is very positive and will close the big gap that was created by -due to the lack of tourists from Israel. Many tourists from there came to us. I believe that they can really be replaced with new clients.”

Local residents involved in the tourism industry ask the authorities not to delay in implementing their plans. They hope that the Greek islands will welcome more Turkish visitors this summer.

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