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This week there has been a lot of confusion as to whether Navagio Beach, the islands most popular site, will be open or not. The confusion comes from a safety assessment conducted by the Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP) on the 8th March. The assessment team specifically looked at the risk of landsides in and around Navagio Beach, from erosion of the surrounding cliffs and the impact this may have on visitors to the beach.
The results of the report were released and the Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias publicly announced that, “The safety of residents and visitors is above everything else and the decision was taken taking into account the new scientific data of the OASP and its President, Professor Efthymios Lekkas, given the large number of visitors in the area during the tourist season. Boats with tourists will be allowed to approach the world-famous beach but travellers will not be allowed go ashore or swim near and around the shipwreck.”
This news greatly surprised the Zakynthos Municipality. Stavros Kakolyris, the president of the Municipal Council of Zakynthos spoke to the the mayor of Zakynthos, Nikita Aretaki about the situation. He said it was not only a surprise but a blow for the island, confirming, “”Officially, no one informed us. We also learned about it from the media this morning and were surprised. We expect the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, to inform us about the issue. Also, not even the Shipwreck Committee knew anything. Everyone we were surprised by this specific action, because no one had informed us.”
He noted that whilst the proposals and advice from the OASP are expected, “The steps come at regular intervals and perhaps that is why Mr. Lekkas suggested something like this. For our part, we will wait for the official announcement by Mr. Kikilia, however we are not positive about the closure of the “Wreck” for the tourist season. it is a big blow to the tourism of the island, because we are talking about the most popular attraction of the country”.
The Island authorities have expressed that they are not in favour of any decision to “close Navagio Beach for 2023” and would prefer to follow safety measure that have been in place in previous years, “We, as the municipality of Zakynthos, have proposed since last year that not all boats come to Navagio, so that in the event of a landslide there will be no overcrowding and the visitors will be safe. That is, one boat should go every half hour and then leave and for more to come. Anyway, ropes, signs for falling rocks, and fencing have been installed. Our proposal was basically not to have a mass transit,”
According to our local MP, Mr Dionysios Aktypis the area will remain open during the summer season. He stated that “I have received a report from Mr Lekka which talks about safety requirements needed in the area known as “Navagio”. Closing the area should not happen under any circumstances. We should be able to have boats within the bay area but at the moment it seems we won’t be able to have people stay on the beach area, which also includes the green zone safety area which was applied last year for people to be able to stay on the beach. In Mr. Lekka’s recent report there were concerns about landslides due to observations that rocks had fallen within the area including the green safety zone.
Mr Aktypis went on to state that actions will take place in order to have a completely safe area for visitors and emphasized that the area will remain open for all to enjoy during the summer season, however, with safety conditions based on what the committee of Mr Lekka advises, which will be reconfirmed in April.
So, at present a closure of Navagio Beach has not been confirmed and Zakynthos authorities would prefer to be able to keep it open with some safety measures and restrictions in place.
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Photos:- Public Domain.
Source:- Ionian Channel.
