Greece will offer a free week’s holiday in Rhodes next year for tourists affected by last month’s wildfires.
Speaking on breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that all the fires in Rhodes have ceased and would love for visitors to return to the island, offering a free stay to the visitors impacted.
“We understand that this caused some inconvenience for some visitors but I’m happy to report that Rhodes today is more welcoming than ever,” he said.
“The island is back to normal and for all of those whose holidays were cut short as a result of the wildfires, the Greek government in co-operation with local authorities will offer one-week free holidays on Rhodes next spring or next fall.
“So that we make sure that they come to the island and they enjoy its natural beauty.” He also encouraged people to consider Rhodes as a holiday
location in a way to repay the island, as its residents offered hospitality and support to stranded tourists.
'Rhodes today is more welcoming than ever, the island is back to normal.'
'The Greek government will offer 1 week of free holiday on Rhodes next spring or fall for all of those whose holiday was cut short due to the wild fires.'
Greece's Prime Minister @kmitsotakis is live. pic.twitter.com/QyAFzL8jJn
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) August 2, 2023
Mitsotakis said that fires are a usual occurrence but climate change has worsened them, but also downplayed the fire in Rhodes.
“We’ve always had wildfires in the Mediterranean for millennia. What has changed in the past year as a result of climate change is their intensity.”
“Yes, we had a devastating fire on Rhodes but it affected less than 15 per cent of the island. The island is perfectly back to normal, we have no active wildfires as we speak, and the weather for the next 15 days looks relatively benign.
“I also need to point out that no lives were lost in Rhodes, no injuries reported. We managed to evacuate 20,000 people very safely.”
Since the PM spoke to the morning show on Wednesday, there has been one death in Rhodes, with a volunteer firefighter reportedly dying due to due to exposure to smoke.
The fires killed at least another five people in Evia, including two pilots, who died when their water-bombing plane crashed while battling a blaze.
Pressure is mounting on the newly re-elected government, with growing frustration at their perceived inaction.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Rhodes residents gathered to demand compensation for farmers, safeguarding for workers, business and homeowners who lost their properties and the immediate reforestation of areas burned down.
Syriza, the opposition party, have also criticised the Mitsotakis’ offer for free holidays with a spokesperson saying “Mr Mitsotakis thinks that he will heal the blow suffered by the image of Greek tourism by promising a week’s free holiday”.
“A serious plan is needed for prevention and treatment. A plan that the government demonstrably does not have,” he said.
