Athens, May 25 (IANS): A domestic ban on travelling to Greek islands was lifted on Monday, as the country sought to reboot its struggling tourist industry after weeks of the coronavirus lockdown.

Ferries have resumed to islands that have been off limits since the Greek government imposed restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 in March, reports the BBC.

Greece has been praised for its handling of the pandemic, recording 171 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,878 confirmed cases.

Last week, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country would open up to international tourism from June 15, earlier than originally planned.

He said most flights to Greece would resume by July 1, when seasonal hotels will reopen and a two-week quarantine for foreigners will no longer be in force.

But tourists from countries with high infection rates won't initially be allowed to visit.

Greece's tourism industry is vital to the country's economy, accounting for about a quarter of the country's GDP.