Greece’s state Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has called an urgent meeting on Monday 19 August do tackle the recent transportation problems on the island of Samothrace.

The cut off, caused by dangerous weather conditions saw hundreds of tourists stranded on the island for a over week unable to reach Alexandroupoli on the mainland.

Several businesses of Samothrace tried to accommodate the stranded visitors without it always being possible as the island was at full capacity in high season and there were other bookings made for those dates.

Hotel and hospitality establishments representatives said that the transport issue is harming the economy in the short tourism season on the island while tarring Greece’s image abroad.

Business owners complained that the island’s citing cancellation rates is causing the destination to be blacklisted by international travel directives and among Balkan countries.

ALSO READ: Keeano, the Greek startup making a splash at beaches

The meeting, set to take place at the Maximos Mansion will be attended by the Minister for Shipping and Island Policy Yiannis Plakiotakis; Tourism Minister Charis Theocharis; Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis; Minister of Interio Takis Theodorikakos; the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesman Stelios Petsas as well as East Macedonia and Thrace Regional Governor Christos Metios.

Meanwhile, Government officials are accusing the Tsipras administration of negligence and the deteriorated condition of the Kamariotissa port in Samothrace.

Officials are citing that the port has serious safety issues with its seabed in immediate need of dredging as debris is preventing ships from properly running aground.

 

ALSO READ: Best Greek cocktail: Time Out votes the Clumsies Aegean Negroni as the top cocktail in the world