Greece to allow flights in and out from June 15

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International flights into and out of Greece will resume on June 15 as the country continues to ease its COVID-19 restrictions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis however said safety will remain a priority as the country seeks to avoid a new wave of infections.

Tourism accounts for about 20% of Greece's economic output, and is considered vital for the Mediterranean nation which emerged from a decade-long debt crisis in 2018.

"It is a great pleasure to be here in Santorini... to send a message: Greece is ready to welcome tourists this summer by putting their safety and their health as a number one priority," Reuters quotes Mitsotakis.

Greece attracts millions of tourists every year, most of whom visit to enjoy its beaches.

The country plans to conduct COVID-19 tests on all visitors arriving from countries deemed high-risk by the European Union's aviation safety agency EASA from Monday. Visitors will be quarantined up to 14 days, depending on the test result.

Passengers arriving from other airports will be randomly tested.