South Aegean Regional Governor calls on Tourism Minister to rectify misleading UK press reports
tourism
19 Aug 2020
/ 11:10
RHODES. Concern in the Dodecannese with British cancellations in Kos for the end of August and September.
South Aegean Regional Governor Giorgos Hatzimarkos has sent an urgent letter to the Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis and Deputy Minister Manos Konsolas asking them to take action to rectify the recent misleading claims in the UK press.
The articles refer to the data that determines, amongst other things, whether a country is to be included on the list with a 14-day quarantine requirement for returning travellers.
There have been articles in British newspapers stating that following France, Greece will be included in the list with a 14-day quarantine requirement for returning travellers.
"The task of facilitating tourism in the midst of a pandemic requires high levels of vigilance, preparedness and cooperation from all," said Mr. Hatzimarkos. "I would request that you ensure that the Ministry takes any actions you consider necessary to correct this misinformation of the British market as soon as possible.
“The said media are basing their arguments, intentionally (?) or mistakenly (?), on the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 14-day period. For this period Greece does, in fact, have 20.1 cases - https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea.
However, one of the UK Ministry of Transport's criteria on which it bases its assessment is not a 14-day period but "number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 7-day period" in which Greece currently holds a score of 13.6, well below the limit of 20, and thus there is no reason for the negative impression given by the media."
For this reason the Regional Governor is requesting the Tourism Minister to take action in cooperation with the UK Government to rectify these misleading articles which are having a negative effect on tourism from the UK.
Other actions are already being taken with the Tourism Initiative Press Officer for International Media sending letters to British media publishers and the British Vice-Consul for Rhodes Rania Kosiori has also been informed.
Source: Rodiaki.gr
The articles refer to the data that determines, amongst other things, whether a country is to be included on the list with a 14-day quarantine requirement for returning travellers.
There have been articles in British newspapers stating that following France, Greece will be included in the list with a 14-day quarantine requirement for returning travellers.
"The task of facilitating tourism in the midst of a pandemic requires high levels of vigilance, preparedness and cooperation from all," said Mr. Hatzimarkos. "I would request that you ensure that the Ministry takes any actions you consider necessary to correct this misinformation of the British market as soon as possible.
“The said media are basing their arguments, intentionally (?) or mistakenly (?), on the number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 14-day period. For this period Greece does, in fact, have 20.1 cases - https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea.
However, one of the UK Ministry of Transport's criteria on which it bases its assessment is not a 14-day period but "number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 7-day period" in which Greece currently holds a score of 13.6, well below the limit of 20, and thus there is no reason for the negative impression given by the media."
For this reason the Regional Governor is requesting the Tourism Minister to take action in cooperation with the UK Government to rectify these misleading articles which are having a negative effect on tourism from the UK.
Other actions are already being taken with the Tourism Initiative Press Officer for International Media sending letters to British media publishers and the British Vice-Consul for Rhodes Rania Kosiori has also been informed.
Source: Rodiaki.gr
