Authorities in Greek Island of Santorini reaffirm safety as priority ahead tourist season
Authorities in Greece say safety continues to remain a priority as schools and businesses reopen across the country's Aegean islands.
The reopening comes after a weeks-long Earthquake swarm, the vast majority of them with small magnitudes, near the country's volcanic island of Santorini.
As a result of the underwater shocks, which were occasionally recorded just minutes apart, thousands fled the renowned clifftop cities of Santorini and the neighbouring islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi.
And, with a gradual decline in the seismic shocks, residents and visitors who fled during the period are returning ahead of the year's tourist season according to the Greek Tourism ministry.
Speaking with Euronews at the ITB international tourism fair in Berlin, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said that the island will welcome visitors again this year, taking some specific safety-related measures.
"From the very first minute, we said that the foremost priority is the safety of both residents and visitors. So, we are opening up Santorini, and, of course, we are looking forward to a season that will operate as normally as possible," Kefalogianni said.
"Of course, taking all precautionary measures, because, as I said before, safety matters to us more than anything else," the Greek Minister for Tourism added.
Santorini is one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations.
Last week, Nikos Zorzos, the mayor of Santorini, said that thousands of people have been returning to the island and urged government officials to help with risk management, such as preventing rockfalls and repairing and installing hillslope fencing.
Greece has dealt with crises in the past. "We are used to dealing with extraordinary situations. But what is important is that we want to make sure that our residents and our visitors in Santorini will feel safe and that they will enjoy their time on the island," said the tourism minister.
Despite the concerns, Kefalogianni stressed that the outlook for this year's tourist season, which begins in April, remained optimistic.
"Of course, we expect people to come to Greece for this period, not only to Santorini but also to all the other beautiful places that Greece has to offer," she said.
Earlier this week, Greece approved three significant tourism initiatives totalling more than 1.2 billion euros that authorities said were aimed at promoting economic growth.
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