The Greek authorities have decided to waive one-week visas for Turkish tourists to the islands.
They have taken this move to improve strained ties between the two countries that have been going on for several years. It is mainly ignited by migrant issues recently, Schengen Visa portal reports.
The decision to establish a one-year visa-on-arrival program for Turkish travellers to the Greek islands possibly will have significant positive impacts on tourism and the economy of both countries.
In this regard, Karavan Tourism Director Özgü Alnıtemiz pointed out that the Greek islands are already popular destinations for Turkish tourists.
They are contributing significantly to the Greek economy through various means such as daily visits and cruise tours.
As tourism professionals, they are happy, but they also need to be cautious. They cannot ignore Germany’s contribution to the Greek economy. Germany has a weight in Schengen. They will wait and see.
Alnıtemiz highlights that the visa fees, which can range from €120 to €200. It is when processed through intermediary institutions. The visa fees represent a burden for Turkish tourists in international travel.
In addition, he also noted that entry with a visa-on-arrival at the Greek islands may result in substantial savings for visitors.
The availability of affordable round-trip tickets between Turkish cities on the Aegean coast and the Greek islands is likely a key factor influencing travel decisions for tourists.
Recently, Greece’s Minister of Immigration, Dimitris Kairides, revealed that the visa will be granted on the spot and valid for a maximum period of seven days with single entry.
The Greek islands covered by this new scheme include Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Rhodes, Symi, and Kastelorizo. Previously, Turkish citizens had to apply for Schengen visas to visit Greece for tourism purposes, including these islands.
Turkish citizens submitted the highest number of Schengen visa applications at the Schengen consulates in Türkiye, totalling 778,409.
Moreover, the Schengen Visa Statistics for 2022 validate this.
Among these applications, 164,829 were filed at the Greek consulate. This makes Greece the second country with the highest number of Schengen Visa applications from Turkish citizens.
Tags: Greek Islands, Turkish tourists, Özgü Alnıtemiz, Dimitris Kairides, visa-on-arrival
