IT’S NOW EASY TO TRAVEL TO GREECE!

Efforts to facilitate access for Turkish nationals to travel to five Greek Islands have begun to reap results. The process of easily obtaining visas has kicked off for Turks travelling to Rhodes.

This Monday, Kos Island will also begin the 'easy-visa' process for Turks arriving from Bodrum. In the upcoming days, islands Mytilene, Samos and Chios will also be initiating the process, which will allow for Turkish nationals to more easily obtain visas. The procedure will also work to eradicate long lines forming in customs, as will also save time for those on day trips. Those who want to visit the aforementioned Greek isles, will now be able to do so by simply applying to tour agencies two days prior to their departure with their passport and a photo. For 60 Euros, Turks will now be able to travel to Greece for a total of fifteen days.

Erdinç Tekel, the manager of a firm which conducts ferryboat trips to Greece, states, "The procedure, being referred to as a 'visa-free' process, is in effect more so an 'easy visa' process. Although the procedure is now applicable to Turks, other nationals, such as Russians, Ukrainians and Kazakhs that have arrived to Turkey will also now be able to obtain visas without visiting consulates by providing us the necessary documents two days prior to their departure. The visa provided will be for 15 days, however also provides the options of both single and double entry. The documents requested are a form to be filled out, a valid passport and a ticket from the firm to travel. If they plan to stay, then they will need a hotel reservation. That's it, no other documents are required. There is also of course the cost of the visa, which is free for those between the ages of 0-6, 35 Euros for those 7-12 and 60 Euros for those 12 and older. This process has already begun for the Marmaris-Rhodes route and as of Monday will begin for Bodrum-Kos trips.

Bülent Güven, an official from yet another firm states, "Yesterday, we signed all of the necessary agreements in Kos in order to facilitate visas being provided from consulates upon entry from Bodrum to the Aegean islands. Nationals form countries throughout the world will now be able to easily travel from Bodrum to Kos or Rhodes. Upon arrival to Kos, they will have to pay a fee, which has been kept low for certain nations. We wish the price for visas for Turks could have been as low as 35 Euros; however they have made it required for Turks to pay out 60 Euros. Overall, it is now much easier to travel to Greece."