Rod Heikell skriver detta på sin facebooksida:
"It seems that passage for boats between Greece and Turkey may soon open. From Enalion a bad Google translate, but you should get the gist of it.
Within a week in the Official Gazette the decision for the opening of yachting by Turkey
Within a week, according to information from "d" - the decision to open yachting by Turkey is expected to be published in the Official Gazette, ending the anxiety of professionals in the industry, after about 1.5 years, due to the implementation of the measures. against coronavirus.
The "democratic" with repeated reports had highlighted the issue and the serious effects on the economy of the islands, while the president of the Dodecanese Chamber Mr. G. Pappou in a recent letter to the Minister of Tourism Mr. Haris Theocharis and notification to the co-responsible Foreign Ministers , Mr. N. Dendia, Health, Mr. V. Kikilia, Civil Protection, Mr. N. Hardalia, had requested the opening of maritime tourism for private yachts from Turkey, in compliance with all prescribed health protocols.
The meeting convened last week by the governor of the South Aegean, for the settlement of all outstanding issues during which all issues related to the opening of the maritime borders for yachts from Turkey were discussed and agreed as well as the operational assistance of each involved project, was the last step before the opening of the border.
With the decision, which will be published in the Official Gazette within the remaining 24 hours, -except for the serious unexpected on Wednesday- it will be included in the exceptions of third countries from where visitors with yachts will be allowed at the 6 entrance gates, namely at the gates of Rhodes, Kos , Kalymnos, Symi, Leros and Patmos, from which they will then be able to continue their journey to all the islands.
Shipping agents on both sides of the Aegean have not stopped receiving phone calls from boat owners wishing to spend their holidays in the Greek islands since last year.
Every week that passes with the borders closed, the Greek islands lose significant revenues since maritime tourism from Turkey is one of the constant "blood donors" of the Greek economy in the summer.
The suspension of the sea connection with Turkey has "frozen" the visits of hundreds of potential high-income visitors, both Turks and Europeans, who dock their boats in the neighboring country and every year traditionally visit Greek islands for their summer holidays. This results in the loss of significant revenues and the weakening of the local island economy as early as the summer of 2020.
It is estimated that the reduction of yachts that Rhodes receives, currently exceeds 70%! This gap, as the agents point out, is unfillable and there should be special care for this form of tourism, which is one of the safest. In 2019, Symi welcomed more than 12,000 boats, coming mainly from Turkish ports. If the connection with Turkey remains closed, it is estimated that Symi will not receive more than 1000 boats this season, dealing a huge blow to the island's economy, as reported by "d" the mayor Mr. Lefteris Papakalodoukas.
The paradox is that the boats are allowed to approach the Greek ports for mooring only with the crews without the owners and the other passengers boarding them. At the same time, boat owners can travel from Turkish airports to Greek destinations. It is noted that only from European countries, through Cyprus and Israel, the islands now accept yachts, but their number is limited.
Always, the largest volume of yachts came through the Turkish beaches, where they remain moored, waiting for the green light from the Greek government in the hope that something will change after more than a year, even imposing strict entry measures for passengers."
