Rhodes: Tourism started stronger than ever with very good prospects for the season

It is for another year the big bet for those active in the industry. She evaluates the first elements that cause smiles and optimism… With the best prospects, the tourist season has begun on the island of Rhodes and according to all estimates it will develop particularly dynamically and in the coming months with a similar boost to the local economy. “We expect very positive results from almost all tourist markets and we take it for granted that tourist arrivals this year will be increased,” says the President of the Association of Tourist Offices of the Dodecanese Christos Michalakis. As early as the weekend there is a sharp increase in charter flights and the movement is to be ejected to the heights as, since during this time they were scheduled to begin mass tourist arrivals and the start of the tourist season that is mainly attributed to the Catholic Easter. The tourist movement will rise even more, however, Mr Michalakis says, since from April 1 to 7 the number of charter flights is almost doubled. According to the data at that time, 122 charter flights from various countries are expected to land in Rhodes, bringing up even more tourist traffic, while by the 10th of the month most of the hotels have not yet been opened to accommodate tourists who are starting to reach the island. “The season according to the so far will be very good and will last until at least mid-November” the General Director of the Tourism Promotion Organization of Rhodes Dionysios Tsiligiris points out to the APE-APM. There is a rise of reservations from almost all tourist markets, which is particularly important as Mr. Tsiligiris points out, while a significant number of Turkish tourists are to visit the island of Rhodes and the other islands of the Dodecanese under the recent seven-day visa agreement. Increased movement is expected from England, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, while a pleasant surprise is the Israel market that begins well but no one knows how it will develop next. Notable is also as Mr. Tsiligiris points out that from Germany there is a “muddle” in reservations due to the economic crisis, but there is optimism that things will evolve well afterwards. The problem that exists is that of the lack of staff that afflicts most tourism businesses, Mr Tsiligiris says, pointing out that every effort is being made to tackle it. His optimism recently expressed with his statements and the president of the Rhodes Hotel Association Giannis Papavassiliou stressing this year’s tourist season on our island will be positive and even in his estimates the move will record an increase that will even reach 5% which means that we are going for a new record by breaking every previous performance