The combination of actions and initiatives for the next day for tourism in the areas of Rhodes that were affected by the recent wildfire were determined at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at Maximos Mansion.
Given that there is no longer an active fire on the island and the state of operational emergency has ended, the main topics that were discussed with representatives of the local authorities and the competent tourism bodies were the key measures in support of residents and businesses, the timetable for the restoration of the affected regions and measures to promote the tourism product in these areas in the top markets of interest for Rhodes.
The actions that will follow are grouped into three categories:
1) direct support for affected residents and businesses through the state aid mechanism. Inspectors have determined that six buildings have to be demolished, while another 39 have suffered lesser damage
2) immediate work by the prefecture and the municipality for the restoration of road networks and public beaches
3) a positive promotional campaign for Rhodes in the main markets of interest for the island
In the affected areas, the reopening of businesses that are ready to welcome visitors again is already underway, while the state aid arm of the Civil Protection authority has moved ahead with registering damages for compensation.
The support measures for the tourism product of the island will be presented in detail next week. It was also stressed that Rhodes has a brand that is strong abroad and was further enhanced by the immediate response of the state and the outstanding actions of residents and volunteers during the fires.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, Minister of State Akis Skertsos, Deputy Minister for Tourism Elena Rapti, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Ioannis Bratakos, the Regional Governor of the South Aegean George Hadjimarkos, the Mayor of Rhodes Antonis Kampourakis, the President of the Greek Tourism Confederation Yiannis Paraschis, the President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Alexandros Vassilikos, the Secretary-General of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) Dimitris Fragakis and the President of Marketing Greece Ioanna Dretta.
