"Cyprus absolutely deserves to be on the green list," Undersecretary of Tourism Savvas Perdios, who was in London yesterday, told the Daily Telegraph, referring to the forthcoming first revision of the British government's green travel list.
"We have made a lot of progress, especially in the last month," added Mr Perdios.
According to the British newspaper, the Cypriot Deputy Minister of Tourism hopes that Cyprus will be included in the green list within the month, either on June 7 or in the next revision on the 28th of the month.
The Telegraph notes that the proportion of cases per total population in Cyprus is not far from the corresponding proportion for Portugal, which is already on the green list, but also for Britain itself. Reference is also made to the progress of the Cypriot vaccination program.
Mr Perdios notes that Cyprus is one of the few European countries that is "so open" to visitors from Britain, saying "there is no way" the government can impose restrictions on arrivals from Britain like those applied by France Germany.
The Undersecretary adds that the molecular tests required by British visitors are cheaper on the island.
As for what the British visitors will encounter in Cyprus, Mr. Perdios says that the obligation for face cover in open spaces is expected to be lifted in the near future and that the nightclubs will open on June 10, with the obligation for the spectators to show negative PCR test or proof of complete vaccination.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism points out that despite the opening for tourists, the cases of coronavirus in Cyprus continue to decrease. According to the article, with this fact, Mr. Perdios challenges the slow approach of the EU to the opening for tourism.
He also expresses the belief that this year's tourist season in Cyprus will be extended, possibly until December.
Mr. Perdios concludes by saying that later in the summer, since Cyprus will have been added to the British green list, all Britons could be admitted to Cyprus without a previous negative diagnostic test. "If the UK continues to make progress in the coming weeks, I think it is extremely likely that it will be placed in our green category, which means that tests are not mandatory for anyone," said the Undersecretary of Tourism.
He adds that the Cypriots are looking forward to the British who return regularly to the island and with whom they have developed friendships.