UNWTO Says Greece a Safe Destination, Lauds Fire Management

Rhodes, Greece.

Greece remains a safe destination thanks to its readiness and effective management of fires this month,  said UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) Director for Europe, Alessandra Priante.

“I want to congratulate Greece because it managed to effectively manage the emergency situations that arose in Rhodes and Corfu. If Greece had been unprepared to manage the rescue after the fires, it would cause much greater problems,” said Priante in an exclusive interview to Greek news site newmoney.gr.

The UNWTO Europe chief went on to add that Greece would remain a top choice for holidaymakers despite the fires and this because the travel and tourism sector is “resilient”.

UNWTO (UN World Tourism Organization) Director for Europe, Alessandra Priante (second from left). Photo source: @AlexPriante.

“I believe that tourists will want to return to the Greek islands. Greece is a safe destination because it has the means to rescue tourists if necessary. This is what Greek authorities need to communicate: that visiting the country is not only about enjoying the natural beauty, but if something negative does happen, it is ready and will be able to support visitors,” she said.

Priante also referred to Greek authorities’ success in mobilizing every competent body to provide accommodation, supplies and return flights in the case of the fires on Corfu and Rhodes.

“The UNWTO has formulated an International Code for the Protection of Tourists in Emergencies (ICPT). We welcome the fact that Greece respected the principles of the code and requested travel and insurance companies to do their duty,” she said.

The Greek government opened a Help Desk at Rhodes International Airport last weekend to assist in the departure of tourists. Photo source: Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

Priante stressed that the level of readiness of destinations is  a crucial factor for travel. “Fires, but primarily heat waves, are expected to play an important role in the future in terms of tourist choices,” she said.

To demonstrate she cited European Travel Commission research which shows a 10 percent drop in the popularity of Mediterranean destinations in 2023 compared to last year.

“The rising costs and high temperatures seem to be driving away a portion of tourists who are turning to cooler destinations such as Ireland and Denmark,” she said.

“Surely tourist options will be affected by the effects of the heat, but also of the fires. However, what is decisive when choosing a destination is ultimately how prepared a destination is to deal with emergency situations,” she said.

Photo source: EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid.

In view of the climate crisis, Priante reiterated the importance of transitioning to sustainable tourism, adding that it was equally important for tourist destinations to develop and implement more effective models for managing tourist flows which should include both locals and authorities in the planning.