‘Greece is doing a great job,’ says German tourism official

When he was appointed to the job in 2018, Thomas Bareiss, a deputy minister at the Department of the Economy and Energy and Germany's commissioner for tourism, probably didn't expect it to be quite so challenging. As the federal government's point man on tourism, he is in charge of coordinating with his opposite numbers across Europe and elsewhere to ensure his country can safely welcome visitors from abroad this summer, but also that those among the tens of millions of Germans that normally travel beyond the German borders who also plan to do so this year, will be able to do so at minimum risk.

In normal times, a good portion of the German summer exodus - more than 4 million travelers last year - heads to Greece. Attracting as many as possible back this year has been a high priority for the Greek government. Speaking to Kathimerini, Bareiss is full of praise for its efforts...