Greek PM meets Turkish tourists amid arrivals surge on Lesvos
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, currently on a campaign tour of Lesvos, on Friday met with Turkish tourists on the eastern Aegean island, which has seen a surge in visitors from the neighboring country following the implementation of the “visa-express” program.
More than 90 passengers arrived on a ferry from Ayvalik, approximately 14 nautical miles from the port of Mytilene. Twenty of them applied for the seven-day visa on Greek territory rather than at the consular office in Turkey.
Lesvos launched fast-track visas for Turkish tourists on April 1, following an agreement between Athens and Ankara, approved by the EU, to revive a previous scheme called the special Schengen Express Visa program for Turkish citizens wishing to visit certain eastern Aegean islands, including Lesvos.
An estimated 7,000 Turkish tourists visited the island during the seker bayrami holiday from April 6 to 14.
“I don’t need to emphasize how vital this is for the island’s local economy. I believe the smiles on the faces of all involved parties attest to it, as they witness a notable increase in tourist arrivals from Turkey,” Mitsotakis said during a meeting with local officials later on Friday.
“Furthermore, this program serves as concrete evidence that the diplomatic approach between Greece and Turkey produces tangible outcomes, primarily benefiting our islanders. They are the ones seeking to live in conditions of peace and security with our neighbor, and naturally, they also stand to gain economically from this ongoing communication.”
