Some 20,000 Turks traveled to five Greek islands during the nine-day Eid al-Fitr holiday after Greece introduced a visa-on-arrival regime for Turkish holidaymakers.

The first phase of granting express visas to Turkish citizens will begin on March 30 and will initially cover five islands. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis in response to an up-to-date question by PASOK MP George Nikitiadis.

The "Island" program aims to achieve the energy autonomy of three small Greek islands, Chalkis, Kastellorizo and Antikythera, by the end of 2025. By applying innovative technologies and with a budget of 2.5 million euros from the Recovery Fund, they are planned to become "Green Island" standards at European and international level, upgrading the lives of residents, stimulating tourist interest and protecting their ecosystem.