Could the opening up of travel to Greek islands for Turkish citizens be the first step towards solving the ‘Cyprus problem’?
Turkish travellers will now be able to visit ten Greek islands under a new scheme announced this week.
Officials on the popular island of Rhodes have opened a new visa terminal for Turkish visitors as part of a diplomatic effort to ease long-standing tensions between the two countries.
The limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit the Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the EU’s passport-free travel zone, also known as the Schengen area.
NATO members Greece and Turkey launched several initiatives last year to try to sidestep decades-old disputes – mostly over sea boundaries, mineral rights in the Aegean Sea and the ownership of Cyprus. The renewed focus on trade is positive for tourism too.
Which Greek islands are included in the express visa scheme and how much does it cost?
In December,…
