Ioannina and Epirus Want to Boost Airline Connectivity in Winter

Ioannina, Epirus.

Hoteliers in Ioannina and overall in Epirus are calling on the government to take actions to ensure direct international flights to the region in the winter and spring.

According to the Ioannina Region Hotels Association, Epirus and Ioannina have not been included in the government’s agreements with airlines and tour operators aimed at keeping tourist flows strong all year round and offering connectivity off season.

In a letter to Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and to Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis, the association is calling for immediate actions in this direction underlining the popularity of the region as a leading winter destination.

Ioannina Airport traffic control tower. Photo source: HCAA

In addition to that, the association notes that the International Ioannina Airport is a main gateway to Northern Greece, located at the junction of three international roadways and in the heart of Epirus, a top winter and adventure tourism destination. According to its latest statistics cited by the hoteliers, passenger traffic last year increased by 110 percent and aircraft movements by 11 percent compared to the corresponding months in 2021.

Lastly, the hoteliers referred to the large diaspora communities and to large enterprises based in the region which require year-round transportation.

(Photo title translation) Regional Unit of Ioannina: A popular winter destination with no international air connections. Photo source: Ioannina Hotels Association.

The association is calling on the ministry to include the Ioannina prefecture in its program aimed at attracting visitors in the winter and early spring, “fully aware that the extension of the tourist season will play an important role in supporting the local economy”.