Greek Tourism Ministry Launches Rhodes Recovery Action Plan

Rhodes, Greece. Photo source: Marketing Greece.

The Greek Tourism Ministry announced on Tuesday a set of actions aimed at restoring tourism to Rhodes, which was hit by destructive fires for more that 10 days last month that forced thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate the island.

In collaboration with the Greek National Tourist Organization (GNTO), the ministry said the immediate priority is to promote and market Rhodes abroad and restore its reputation as a safe destination.

In this direction, the GNTO will be planning media, blogger and influencer trips in August, aimed at informing key source markets such as the UK, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands and Italy.

Medieval town of Rhodes.

The ministry and the GNTO will also launch co-advertising programs with large tour operators and airlines. GNTO branches abroad will be working together with local market partners and tour operators on co-marketing schemes aimed at boosting tourism flows to Rhodes.

The ministry will be in ongoing cooperation with GNTO offices abroad, South Aegean Region authorities, and local tourism stakeholders to ensure the most effective communication strategy, which it will coordinate.

Rhodes, Greece.

Lastly, the ministry will undertake to formulate a long-term promotional strategy for Rhodes based on data collected from research conducted in target markets. The long-term plan will focus on the quality characteristics of the island, but also on sustainability actions that will make the destination an example for the entire Mediterranean, it said.

“The tourism crisis must be treated as an opportunity that can be a fitting cause for upgrading and/or redefining the image of the tourist destination,” said the ministry in a statement.