"Santorini is a safe, organized, and responsible destination. The island is fully prepared to welcome tourists from around the world. With cooperation, planning, and trust, the tourist season will be positive on the island. We are not just returning - we are moving forward."
These optimistic words were spoken this week by Olga Kaplaniani, Greece's Minister of Culture, during a visit to the island ahead of the opening of the cruise season. The season will officially open this coming Sunday with the docking of the first cruise ship at the island, which will be Celestyal Discovery - just a few days before the opening of the season on the other Greek islands.
Photo: Greece's Ministry of Tourism The concern among the tourism businesses on the island, which employ most of its residents, was that the earthquakes would continue and severely impact the season. However, fortune smiled upon them and most of the tremors ceased, with experts also stating that no strong earthquakes are expected in the near future.
Access to the Entire Island is Not Possible
Nonetheless, following what they experienced on the island during the winter months, no risks are being taken, and several measures have been announced in Santorini to ensure tourists' safety. Some are more dramatic (closure of areas prone to earthquakes) while others aim to regulate the number of tourists on the busy island.
Photo: Shutterstock Among other things, control measures were introduced to monitor the number of vehicles in each area of the island and manage traffic so that congestion does not occur during the busy season.
Access and stay at the old port of Thira and the adjacent cable car area have been prohibited until further notice, including walking on trails deemed prone to disasters concerning earthquakes.
Access to part of the eastern settlement in the area of Armeni Bay in Oia has also been prohibited. Visitors arriving by sea, regardless of the type of vessel, will need to obtain special permission from the port authority to access these areas.
The Amoudi area has been prohibited for residential use, hotel operations, short-term rentals (AIRBNB), or long-term leases and the activities of various businesses, in order to manage the number of visitors at all times.