The Minister of Tourism, appearing at the ITB international tourism exhibition in Berlin, states that all necessary measures to ensure safety for both locals and tourists are being taken on the island.
</p><div style="--widget_related_list_trans: 'Related';"><div class="c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-mobile-only"><div class="c-ad__placeholder"><img class="c-ad__placeholder__logo" src="https://static.euronews.com/website/images/logos/logo-euronews-grey-6-180x22.svg" width="180" height="22" alt="" loading="lazy"/><span>ADVERTISEMENT</span></div></div><p>Greek authorities stress that safety is a top priority as schools and businesses reopen on the Aegean islands following a series of earthquakes near Santorini.
The reopening follows a period of earthquake activity, mostly of small magnitude, which prompted the evacuation of popular cliff cities in Santorini and neighboring islands like Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi.
As the seismic activity subsides, residents and visitors who had left are returning in anticipation of the tourist season, according to the Greek Ministry of Tourism.
In an interview with Euronews at the ITB international tourism fair in Berlin, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni reassured that visitors will be welcomed to the island this year with additional safety measures in place.
“From the start, our main concern has been the safety of residents and visitors. We are opening up Santorini, and we look forward to a season as normal as possible,” Kefalogianni stated.
“Naturally, we’re implementing all precautionary measures because safety is paramount,” she added.
Santorini is among Greece’s most attractive tourist destinations.
The mayor of Santorini, Nikos Zorzos, reported last week that thousands have returned to the island and has called upon the government to assist with risk management efforts such as preventing rockfall and reinforcing hillslope fences.
Greece is no stranger to managing crises. The Tourism Minister emphasized, “We are accustomed to handling exceptional situations. What’s important is ensuring our residents and visitors in Santorini feel safe and enjoy their stay.”
Despite concerns, Kefalogianni remains optimistic about this year’s tourist season, which starts in April.
“We anticipate many will choose to visit Greece during this period, not just Santorini, but also the many other beautiful locations we have to offer,” she noted.
This week, Greece endorsed three major tourism projects totaling over 1.2 billion euros aimed at boosting economic growth, as announced by officials.
