Officials in Rhodes, Greece have opened a new vacation visa terminal for Turkish visitors in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries. The limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit 10 Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the EU’s passport-free travel zone. This initiative is part of a broader diplomatic effort between Greece and Turkey to focus on trade rather than longstanding disputes over sea boundaries and mineral rights in the Aegean Sea.
NATO members Greece and Turkey have been working on several initiatives to improve relations, and last year they signed bilateral cooperation agreements aimed at boosting trade and tourism. Turkish President Erdogan visited Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis in Athens, and Mitsotakis is set to visit Turkey in the near future. The new vacation visa is designed to boost tourism in areas and times of the year when traffic is low, therefore helping local economies. The visa will cost 60 euros and includes a passport check and fingerprint recording, with visitors not allowed to travel to other EU member states.
The islands included in the vacation visa program are all located near the Turkish coastline, including Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi, and Kastellorizo. Additional smaller islands are set to join the program in June. Turkey has long sought more relaxed travel rules for its citizens visiting the EU in exchange for cooperation with member states on issues like illegal immigration. Tourism is a crucial industry for the Greek economy, with the country welcoming 32.7 million visitors last year, generating 20.5 billion euros in revenue.
The new system is already in place and has seen high demand from Turkish visitors, although there were no scheduled arrivals on the opening day. Officials in Rhodes expect arrivals to increase in the coming days. The visa is not limited to just the summer months and can be issued year-round. The goal is to attract visitors to the islands during times of the year when tourism is typically slower, providing a boost to the local economies. The new visa is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between Greece and Turkey and promote economic cooperation.
The express visa program is seen as a positive step forward in improving relations between Greece and Turkey, two countries that have a history of tension and disagreement. By focusing on trade and tourism, the hope is to move past longstanding disputes over sea boundaries and mineral rights in the Aegean Sea. Both countries have recognized the importance of working together on mutual interests and are taking concrete steps to build stronger diplomatic and economic ties. The visa program is expected to benefit both countries and contribute to the overall stability and prosperity of the region.
Overall, the opening of the vacation visa terminal in Rhodes for Turkish visitors represents a significant diplomatic effort to improve relations between Greece and Turkey. By promoting tourism and trade, both countries are working towards a more cooperative and mutually beneficial partnership. The new visa program is a practical step towards easing tensions and focusing on shared interests, ultimately leading to greater stability and prosperity in the region. This initiative is part of a broader effort to build stronger ties between the two countries and move beyond longstanding disputes towards a more positive and constructive relationship.
