EU extends Turkey-Greek islands short-term visa program

aa.com.tr –A visa program allowing tourists in Turkey to travel to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea for short visits has been extended for 2018, the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.

Under the program — applied since 2012 — tourists making short visits to certain Aegean Greek islands can be issued a visa at the port, without having to apply at an embassy or a consulate.

The statement said the European Commission had accepted to continue the program in 2018, which allows Turkish citizens and those legally in Turkey to travel to the Greek islands for a week.

The program is critical for the economy of the islands, the statement added.