Passports, tickets – face masks and hand sanitizer. For the first Swedish charter travelers in the pandemic summer of 2020, new buffet rules, warning notes and deserted hotels await.
”It's a bit spooky,” says Albin from Uppsala about the charter hotel on Rhodes.
Remember to wear a face mask. Don't queue for the toilet. And the slightest symptoms of Covid-19 should be reported to the staff immediately.
The calls come through the loudspeaker system on one of the first charter flights to leave Sweden since travel advisories were lifted for several countries earlier this week. It's a reminder that there's still a pandemic going on out there, even as many countries have opened their borders – eager to get tourism going.
When cabin crew with plastic gloves start handing out lunch trays, it is okay to temporarily remove the mask to bite into the food, which comes carefully packaged and wrapped in plastic.
”"Would you like a gin and tonic? Just so you know, we're not allowed to serve it with ice or lemon," a flight attendant tells a passenger, explaining that it's one of many new guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
This particular flight, with destination Rhodes, has been surrounded by turbulence. Greece opened all its airports on July 1, but got cold feet and stopped Swedish direct flights at the last minute due to the virus situation. However, Tui was given special permission to land on Thursday with the condition that staff from the travel giant and journalists would be on board to be able to describe what it will be like when Greece welcomes tourists again. But most of the flight was filled with ordinary travelers, which created great surprise in local media, which renamed the flight ”the forbidden plane” and caused competitor Apollo to roar.
Greece has fared relatively well in the pandemic and is conducting random corona tests on tourists. But when the flight from the infection hotbed Sweden lands in Rhodes, there are no random tests, but all passengers are forced to stick their tongues out at women wearing tops who are receiving them in makeshift booths. The result takes at least a day and if it is positive, they have to wait 14 days in a state quarantine hotel.
The travelers then spread out to the hotels that are strung like a string of pearls along the Mediterranean coast. Many are still closed, others have just opened their doors but with the majority of the rooms still empty.
At one of the few hotels to open in Kolymbia, 126 guests checked in in the first two days, far from the 1,250 or so people it can accommodate. And when the usual entertainment begins, only a handful of spectators are there to politely applaud the singing that echoes from the large stage that has been placed at the heart of the hotel.
”It is of course disappointing that the guests are so few. But we hope to increase occupancy to 30-40 percent next week,” says hotel manager Alexandros Kanis.
”"Tourism is so important to us. We hope there will be a vaccine soon so we don't have to keep our distance from our guests, we like cheek kisses. We want people to travel and have fun, but be careful."”
TT: Are you worried about Swedes coming to your hotel given the infection situation in Sweden?
”"No, I feel confident with the measures we have taken. Sweden chose a different path than many others and it is not up to us to judge whether it was right or wrong."”
The staff has been reduced due to a shortage of work. But those who remain have been specially trained to recognize Covid symptoms and guests' temperatures are checked before check-in. A maximum of two people are allowed in the elevators at a time, decorative pillows have been removed to make the rooms cleaner and anyone who wants a buffet has to make do with standing behind a plastic sheet and pointing at dishes that the staff then puts on a plate.
”"It's going to be cumbersome, both for guests and for staff. I feel sorry for the staff the most, who have to work extra hours and there's a lot of trash with all the gloves and face masks that have to be put on and taken off all the time in the restaurant," says Andreas Öhrvall from Eskilstuna, who is on vacation with his son.
Albin and Rebecca have traveled from Uppsala to enjoy the sun and swimming with their nine-year-old daughter Lea. They think it seems like the hotel has taken proper infection control measures.
”"It's very well organized, it feels like they've thought about it. But it's maybe not quite as fun as it usually is, there's usually more going on at hotels like this and it's full of people," says Rebecca.
The couple notes that the biggest noticeable difference from previous charter trips is the new rules regarding the buffet.
”"It will be something completely different. You want to be able to choose for yourself," says Albin.
”Yes, they put way too much food on it and it tastes a bit strange,” Lea adds.
Source: TT
