Aid for Evacuees: Greece Provides Hotel Vouchers Amid
The Greek government has announced a compensation scheme called Rodos Week for holidaymakers who were evacuated from hotels in Rhodes last year due to wildfires. The scheme offers vouchers worth up to €500 (£430) for hotel stays of seven nights, available during two periods: in the spring between 10 April and 31 May, and in the autumn between 1 October and 15 November.
The vouchers will be provided based on the original booking that was cut short. For instance, those staying in a three-star hotel in up to a triple room would receive vouchers worth €300. Holidaymakers must book for at least seven consecutive nights, with six of them being consecutive.
The Greek Ministry of Tourism is compiling a list of affected holidaymakers using data from hotels and tour operators. Those on the list have been contacted via email to complete their registration. However, those who haven’t been contacted can still apply for vouchers, with the deadline for spring applications already passed but applications for the autumn period still open.
Last summer, wildfires fueled by a heatwave affected Rhodes and Corfu, prompting evacuations. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change, particularly in the Mediterranean region, which experienced record temperatures in July 2023, according to the United Nations.
The fires on Rhodes and Corfu were part of a broader heatwave that gripped Greece, with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) across the country. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized the severity of the situation, acknowledging that there was no simple solution in the face of global climate challenges.
The Rodos Week scheme aims to provide some relief to affected holidaymakers who had their vacations disrupted by the wildfires. By offering vouchers for discounted hotel stays, the Greek government hopes to support tourists who were inconvenienced during their time in Greece. The vouchers are part of efforts to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on the tourism industry, which plays a significant role in the Greek economy.
While the vouchers may not fully compensate for the disruption caused by the wildfires, they represent a tangible effort by the government to assist affected holidaymakers. Additionally, the scheme underscores the importance of addressing climate change and its implications for the tourism sector, as extreme weather events become increasingly common.
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