The European Commission has banned Greece to abolish visas for Russian tourists

It is believed that visa-free access of Russian tourists may have a negative impact on the tourist industry of the Greek Islands.

The European Commission had approved the project on a visa-free visit to the Greek Islands in the Eastern Aegean sea with tourists from countries that are not EU members.

The decision of the European Commission, according to experts, can negatively affect the tourism industry of the Islands. These tourists offset the Greek losses from the decline in tourist arrivals from Europe.

The project of visa-free entry was offered to begin with March 2017 for tourists from Iran, from April — for Russians and guests from Turkey.

The authorities of South Aegean region Greece earlier appealed to the Commissioner for migration, home Affairs and EU citizenship to expedite the launch of the pilot program, a special visa regime for tourists from third countries arriving in the ports of several Islands from the territory of Turkey.

Simplified visa regime has acted for Russians and citizens of other countries when they visit the Greek Islands from Turkey in the summer of 2012 and 2013. Program, through which travelers arriving on the island from the Turkish ports, received a 15-day visa on the spot, operated on the Islands of Rhodes, KOs, Chios, Lesvos and Samos.

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