Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that tourists who had to flee the recent wildfires on the island of Rhodes will be offered a free one-week holiday there. Speaking on
ITV's Good Morning Britain, he stated that the offer could be redeemed in the spring or autumn of 2024. However, specific details on how tourists can claim the free holiday or how the scheme will operate were not provided.
More than 20,000 people were evacuated when wildfires ravaged the island in July, leading to the repatriation of thousands of UK holidaymakers. Despite the challenges faced during the wildfires, the Greek PM assured the public that not a single human life was lost in Rhodes, and the island has returned to normal. He emphasized the hospitality and support shown by Rhodes residents to stranded holidaymakers and urged people to consider the island as a last-minute holiday destination to show support and give something back.
Mr. Mitsotakis also addressed the increasing intensity of wildfires in the Mediterranean, attributing it to climate change. He reiterated that Greece was prepared for such incidents and reassured that the country remains "absolutely safe" for tourists.
While the free holiday offer was intended to promote tourism and compensate for any inconvenience faced, some Greeks expressed frustration on social media, feeling that their government should prioritize supporting locals who lost their homes and livelihoods during the wildfires. There is growing demand for compensation for livestock breeders, farmers, workers, businesses, and homeowners affected by the fires, as well as for immediate reforestation of the burned areas.
The impact of climate change on European tourism was highlighted in a recent European Commission report, projecting decreased demand for southern European destinations. Tourism constitutes a significant portion of Greece's GDP, with Rhodes being a popular tourist destination worldwide. As the government faces criticism over its response to the wildfires, calls for comprehensive prevention and treatment plans to address climate-related disasters continue to grow. Photo by The White House from Washington, DC, Wikimedia commons.