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Refugees influx slows Lesvos tourist traffic

23/09/2015 Economy , Rest of Greece
Refugees influx slows Lesvos tourist traffic

The Aegean island of Lesvos, being in close proximity with Turkey shores, has borne the brunt of the refugee crisis in the last few months Mytilini town, Lesvos. Photo © Koutrolm / Wikimedia Commons

Large losses have been inflicted on the hoteliers and other tourism related entrepreneurs of Lesvos by the continuing influx of refugees to the island.

The Lesvos Hoteliers Association (LHA) estimates that the reduction of overnight stays and revenue this year exceeds 30% and seeks measures that will support tourism in the coming years.

Immigration “footprint”

In this spirit,  the hoteliers sent a letter  — prior to the emergency EU Summit on migration — to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras proposing that he insist on the implementation of a refugee/immigration “footprint” much like the energy footprint applicable in the countries of the South.

According to the Association’s President Pericles Antoniou, Turkish tourists who had pre-booked their holidays on Lesvos are cancelling their plans, and major tour operators are dropping flights for the remainder of the season and have limited reservations for 2016.

A proposed solution

According to LHA, a solution to the problem might be traced in the French economist Thomas Piketty’s proposal for the conversion of Greece into an ‘EU Special Economic Zone’, a practice which has been successfully implemented in the Chinese city Shenzhen, attracting investments and various funds.

Indeed, all the more tourists are discouraged from visiting the Greek island of Lesvos, as the humanitarian crisis is growing there on a daily basis.

The Aegean island, being in close proximity with Turkey shores, has borne the brunt of the refugee crisis in the last few months, with local officials repeatedly calling on the Greek government and EU authorities to find ways to alleviate the growing problem.

Source: http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/

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