A EUROPEAN holiday destination has said it is aiming to welcome back UK holidaymakers in May - as airlines take bookings for North-East flights.
Greece has said it is aiming to reopen its borders to foreign tourists by mid-May, depending on the status of the Covid pandemic.
It comes as Jet2 are taking bookings for May departures leaving from Newcastle Airport in anticipation of UK travel restrictions being lifted.
This morning, Greece's tourism minister Haris Theoharis gave a provisional date of May 14 as he said: “We are approaching the exit from this dark tunnel thanks to the power of the human spirit and the progress of science.
We are ready to share the experience of liberation Tourism minister Haris Theoharis “Please allow me to emphasise that no image could better portray the return to the normality of tourism than the Greek smile, the Greek landscape, the Greek hospitality.
“Regarding 2021, in Greece we are more than optimistic.
“We are ready, we are ready to share the experience of liberation from the unpleasant memories of the pandemic with each and every one of our guests.”
In England, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has provisionally said foreign holidays may be permitted from May 17, provided infections and deaths continue to fall.
The PM's roadmap, which was announced last month, gave that date as the earliest possible date when travel restrictions would be eased.
The Government’s Global Travel Taskforce is expected to provide a report to the PM on April 12 setting out recommendations for how and when overseas leisure trips could resume.
Flights now available
According to Jet2's website, flights between Newcastle Airport and Greek destinations including Thessaloniki, Kos, Skiathos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Zante are operating from mid-May.
Greece is one of the most popular summer destinations for UK holidaymakers.
British nationals usually make more than three million visits to the country each year, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
What are the rules likely to be in Greece
Visitors will be required to have been vaccinated, had a recent negative Covid-19 test or have coronavirus antibodies, the Greek government has said.
A “pilot” reopening of borders is likely to take place early next month.
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