Zakynthos Informer Zakynthos Informer
Related Articles
• Γ. Filippopolitis: “The companies will start with a small program and we do not know with what capacities”
• C. Margaris: “Lifebuoy, which will support the local economy at the end of the season”
“Better late than never”! The way looks as if it has finally been opened for the arrival of British tourists to our island. From July 19 onwards, according to what Boris Johnson announced, they will be able to return from areas that are orange, without having to remain in a 10-day quarantine.
Much of the tourist season has been lost, but these developments are very important for the local economy, with tourism agents pointing out that at least September and October will provide a significant boost.
“After Mr Johnson’s announcements, we are waiting for clarifications from the Minister of Transport. We think we will have some flow of visitors. However, do not believe that it will happen like 2018 or 2019. All this is positive and if something does not change dramatically with the Delta mutation, we will do well in October as well “, stresses the travel agent Giannis Filippopolitis. He even hopes that this time it will be final and that the vaccinated Britons will come from July 19.
“We had hopes for the end of May and then June and now July 19th. We hope it will be final this time. Let’s see what demand will be for our country. There are many who want to come to Zakynthos. Definitely not as many as there used to be.
Fear of a pandemic and financial difficulties, as well as the fact that many have booked holidays in their home country, play a role. I think we will have a good move but not something incredible “.
The president of the Hoteliers Association of D.E. Zakynthos George Margaris noted that this is a positive development, however he expressed his concern regarding the number of visitors.
“Better late than never. We have arrived in the middle of the tourist season and expected a positive development from Great Britain. On July 19, we hope that travel and flights from the United Kingdom will take effect. I think it is too late now and the British have done their planning. Airlines and tour operators will start with a small program and we do not know with what fullness. This will be a good base, so that hopefully in Autumn we have a little traffic “.
What they emphasize that the people of tourism on our island at every opportunity is that it is necessary to maintain a good epidemiological image.
“Let us hope we do not have cases for the sake of our health and tourism. We hope that with the opening of the British market we will not have any particular problems. I believe that things will go well “ , pointed out Mr. Filippopolitis.
Mr. Margaris added that the British market is the only “life buoy” this summer.
“The truth is that if there are no outbreak problems due to the mutation, for September and October the English market will be the only ‘lifeboat’, along with the markets that have supported Zakynthos, such as the Polish and the Dutch.” .
It remains to be seen what will happen in the end with the fullness of the flights from Great Britain. Mr. Filippopolitis notes:
“All companies do their planning and have a way to make their measurements and see how each market goes. Zakynthos is a top destination in the Mediterranean, so we believe that we will have a good part of the English market “.
Source Imera
