Rhodes is one of Europe’s premier holiday destinations, frequented by tens of thousands of Brits every year – a significant proportion of whom will have been sent on their way by the UK’s independent travel agent community.
Last month’s wildfires made national news headlines for several weeks, capturing the major evacuation effort from southern areas of the island – an understandably concerning sight for anyone with a holiday booked to Rhodes this summer.
But with the country’s hoteliers confident of a prompt return to normality, tourism has already resumed en masse to Rhodes, and will undoubtedly play a major role in helping the island recover from the recent wildfires.
So if you have clients booked to Rhodes who are perhaps a little uneasy about the prospect of heading to the island after everything that has gone on, here are a few key pieces of information they need to know that may offer them – and you – a bit of reassurance.
What can they expect when they arrive?
Sunshine and a mountainous green landscape. There are no smouldering fires, closed roads or other obstacles. Yes, there are signs of fire damage close to some roads, but the air is clean and no ash is blowing into resorts. Rhodes is a big island, and the damaged area is just a fraction of it.
Are the hotels up and running?
All but two of the 600 hotels on the island have reopened – and those two are just awaiting parts for air conditioning systems. The worst you can expect is some blackened vegetation in parts of some hotel grounds, but this is rapidly being replaced.
What about around the affected resorts?
You will find some blackened areas interspersed with untouched areas of greenery.
Are there any restrictions on excursions?
A few hiking trails may be off limits but for most visitors there are no issues.
What can I do to help?
Send clients to Rhodes and encourage them to go outside their hotels and spend money in the local community. Also, remind them that dropping cigarette butts and discarding glass create fire hazards in hot climates, particularly in pine forests, which are very prone to ignition.
Will it happen again?
Who knows? With climate change – or arson – you can never say never, but the combination of 40C and high winds that fuelled the fires is thankfully very rare.
