The Greek island hotspot urging travellers to return as people stay away – Wales Online
A large chunk of Greece’s yearly income comes from tourism. The island of Rhodes accounting for a large part of that. Following last year’s devastating wildfires that ravaged large areas of Greece, tourists who had been forced to evacuate were offered one week of free holidays to Rhodes by the Greek government. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered the trips for the spring or autumn of 2024.
He said it was to “make sure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty.†The tourist beauty spot descended into chaos as the fires spread. A massive 20,000 people, including thousands of tourists, were forced to flee the blazes last year in what officials said at the time was the largest evacuation the country had ever seen.
A large percentage of Greece’s GDP comes from the tourism sector with the island of Rhodes accounting for a large part of that, around 2.6 million visitors going there last year alone. The country is experiencing a widening gap between regions with high levels of tourism and those without, but debates about whether tourism can sometimes become overwhelming make it a complex topic.
Data on turnover in accommodation and catering from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) shows that a fifth of turnover, 18.3 percent, is generated in the Southern Aegean region, with Rhodes alone accounting for 6.5 percent of the country’s total. A staggering 1.4 billion Euros (£1.19bn) was turned over in the Ionian islands with Corfu alone accounting for half of that figure. Central Greece, in comparison, which is 5,000 times larger than the Ionian Islands combined, only managed to reach 383 million Euros (£326m).
Rhodes is no stranger to tourist crowds, having long been a popular stopping off spot for cruise ships. The picturesque town of Lindos, once a sleepy fishing village, regularly attracts tourist hordes with its narrow alleys and whitewashed buildings – threatening the very laid back vibe that made the town a hit to begin with.
That being said, despite Rhodes’ rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, today many tourists, particularly from the UK, have chosen to holiday in other parts of the country. The innovative program, known as The Rodos Week initiative, was therefore launched in a desperate bid to revive the island’s tourism sector.
All tourists who were registered on the evacuation lists have been offered an e-voucher to put towards the cost of a stay in a hotel or similar to that which they stayed in (which has signed up to participate) during the fires. Tourists could receive between 300 and 500 Euros (£426) for their stay, depending on the category.
Locals have been hard at work rejuvenating the island to ensure it remains a tourist draw and leaves the terrifying wildfires behind as an unpleasant memory. And the Greek government is hoping to show off the island’s famous beauty to travelers through the e-voucher scheme.