Cyprus, Greece oppose ban on Russian tourist visas

This was stated by the general secretary of Cyprus’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kornelios Korneliou, Politico reports.

"This would be a decision in the wrong direction. We believe in people-to-people contacts, even Turkish citizens are granted visas by the Cypriot authorities, so we do not believe that this measure has any value for Russians", Kornelios Korneliou said.

It is noted that Cyprus and Greece stand for Germany, opposing the blocking of visas for Russian tourists who want to visit the EU.

"The main weapon is European unity, and our partners must respect the sensitivities of others on this issue", he added. 

The publication emphasizes that Northern Greece is a favorite vacation spot for Russian tourists in the summer. This July, Greece saw a dramatic 177 percent jump in air arrivals from Turkey compared to 2019, Greece's record tourism year.