The first ΄swallows΄ have come - first international arrivals. What Tourism Minister said

The Minister of Tourism Haris Theoharis, who had just arrived, was there to welcome them.

This year's unprecedented tourist season has started with at least three months delay and the Minister, Mayor Meropi Ydraiou, Regional Governor Meropi Andrioti and MP Stefanos Gikas all made statements at the airport.

Here's hoping the tourist season goes well!

Statement from Haris Theoharis

"I am very pleased to be here with my fellow MPs, the Regional Authority, the Municipality and all the island's tourist bodies. Today is a very important day and it is not by chance that I am here in Corfu for the reopening of Greek tourism. The tourist season will open from Corfu. The tourist businesses will reopen and we will return to a normality that we all want.

The tourist season this year will not be the same as last year. However, the priorities have to be different - people and everyone's health have always been the priorities for the Government and the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. With the gradual opening Greece will prove that, just as it was a pioneer in the way it handled coronavirus, it will also be a pioneer in the opening to tourism.

We are optimistic and certain that the Greek tourist product is here and will even be improved. We will be next to you every day and we will resolve any problems that may come up. Yesterday we came to an agreement with the huge company TUI to bring large numbers of visitors to our country - at least half the number that the company brought here last year - despite the pessimism of those that criticise us. We are here and Greek tourism will prove it is here."

See more photos here.