The Greek government is offering free holidays to a popular tourist island that people are now avoiding Rhodes, once a magnet for tourists to the point where locals wished they'd stay away, was hit hard by wildfires. In an effort to aid recovery from the 2023 devastation, the Greek government is now offering free holidays on the island. After last year's catastrophic wildfires tore through swathes of Greece, evacuees are being given a chance to return to Rhodes for a complimentary one-week holiday, courtesy of the Greek authorities.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has extended the offer for either spring or autumn of 2024, stating it's to "we make sure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty." The idyllic tourist destination was thrown into turmoil as the fires raged. An unprecedented evacuation saw 20,000 people, including many visitors, escape the inferno described by officials as the largest in the nation's history.
Tourism is a cornerstone of Greece's economy, with Rhodes being a significant contributor, drawing around 2.6 million tourists last year. The country grapples with the disparity between regions that thrive on tourism and those that don't, sparking debates over the industry's impact and sustainability, reports Bristol Live .
The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) has revealed that a fifth of Greece's accommodation and catering turnover, 18.3 percent, is generated in the Southern Aegean region, with Rhodes alone contributing 6.5 pe.