As a swarm of earthquakes continues to rattle the Aegean Sea, the Greek government has declared a state of emergency on four islands, including tourist hotspot Santorini.
Tens of thousands of tremors have been recorded since January 26, with experts noting the prolonged seismic activity is unusual for Greece.
Despite the concerns, Australian travel companies report minimal impact on bookings.
John Polyviou, General Manager of Sun Island Tours, stated, “As it is winter season, we do not currently have any clients in Santorini, Amorgos or other Cycladic islands impacted by the earthquake tremors.”
He reassured that future travel plans would proceed as scheduled, with bookings for the summer season continuing without disruption.
Similarly, Halina Kubica, Managing Director of Greece & Mediterranean Travel Centre, highlighted that no cancellations had been made so far, and most Australians do not travel to the islands during the winter months.
“We recommend they change destination and of course, we will be flexible,” she added.
Santorini Hoteliers’ Association President Antonis Pagonis echoed these sentiments, confirming that bookings remain consistent with normal patterns.
However, experts warn that the earthquakes could persist for weeks or even months, raising concerns about the potential impact on the upcoming tourist season.
For now, both local authorities and travel experts remain hopeful that the situation will not affect the summer tourism season, urging tourists to stay informed and follow safety protocols.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to advise travellers to “Exercise normal safety precautions in Greece” while monitoring the situation.
Source: karryon.com.au
