GREECE has released the full list of 29 countries which will be allowed to visit the country again from next month.
The UK, however, has not made the list.
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Greece, which has 2,906 cases of coronavirus, is allowed a limited number of tourists from certain countries to begin holidays again within the mainland and the islands from June 15.
The list, based on based on epidemiological data compiled by the committee of experts advising the Greek government, includes the country's Balkan neighbours – Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia, which like Greece have reported low Covid-related infection and fatality rates.
Australia, home to a large Greek community, is also on the list along with New Zealand, Japan, China and South Korea while in the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon have been given the green light.
Nearer to home in Europe, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Cyprus, Estonia, Croatia, Lithuania, Malta, Latvia, Montenegro, Norway, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Norway and Finland are all allowed back in.
The UK has not been included with cases in the UK remaining some of the highest in Europe.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas, who previously said between 20 to 25 countries would be announced, says the list will be regularly reviewed and updated.
The death toll across the UK is currently at 37,837 with nearly 270,000 confirmed cases.
Greek tourism minister Haris Theoharis told ITV News that the UK's record on coronavirus is not good enough at the moment for Brits to be allowed to return.
“I think that the UK has a big difference in terms of the current medical status of the country with Greece, so I don’t think it’s likely it will be there,” he said.
Greece originally hoped to welcome tourists back as soon as June 1.
While tourists can return from mid-June, international flights will resume from July, and Greek officials hope visitors from the UK will be able to fly in by early July when direct flights to island destinations resume.
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis previously said: “The tourist season will begin on June 15 when seasonal hotels will be able to open.
"And from July 1 direct international flights will gradually begin to our tourist destinations."
Ruins and "open air" attractions – like the Acropolis – have reopened with visitors expected to wear face masks while large groups or tours with a guide are banned.
The country’s many museums are to remain closed until next month.
The UK is considering air bridges between other countries, which will allow Brits to travel between them without needing to quarantine for 14 days.
Greece is one of them – Mr Theoharis called for the UK to stop the two-week quarantine for Greek tourists, according to the BBC, and would reciprocate the favour for Brits entering Greece in turn.
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