As the tourist season approaches, authorities on the Greek island of Santorini have reaffirmed their commitment to safety for both residents and visitors.
The Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, speaking at the ITB international tourism exhibition in Berlin, assured that all necessary precautionary measures are being implemented in light of a recent series of minor earthquakes near the volcanic island.
Following a gradual decline in seismic activity, many of the thousands who evacuated the renowned clifftop cities of Santorini and surrounding islands, including Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi, are now returning as schools and businesses reopen.
Kefalogianni emphasised that safety is the foremost priority while expressing optimism for a successful tourism season starting in April.
The mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, also called for enhanced risk management initiatives to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors.
“We are used to dealing with extraordinary situations. But what is important is that we want to make sure that our residents and our visitors in Santorini will feel safe and that they will enjoy their time on the island,” said the tourism minister.
Despite the concerns, Kefalogianni stressed that the outlook for this year’s tourist season, which begins in April, remained optimistic.
“Of course, we expect people to come to Greece for this period, not only to Santorini but also to all the other beautiful places that Greece has to offer,” she said.
Earlier this week, Greece approved three significant tourism initiatives totalling more than 1.2 billion euros that authorities said were aimed at promoting economic growth.
( Source : euronews )
