Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message of optimism from Rhodes following the meeting on tourism, noting that the Dodecanese continue to hold a strong position on the Greek tourism map, despite the unstable international environment.
The Prime Minister noted that tourism in the region remains resilient, attributing a significant part of this success to local stakeholders and industry professionals.
“Tourism in the Dodecanese is proving resilient; local authorities have turned it into a flagship,” he said.
At the same time, he referred to developments in the Middle East and specifically to the conflict in Iran, saying that there is optimism that the crisis may de-escalate soon, without, however, losing valuable time for this year’s tourist season.
The message for the Middle East
The Prime Minister emphasized that the country must act immediately to capitalize on the emerging demand for Greece as a safe tourist destination.
“Optimism regarding a swift resolution of the conflict in Iran automatically creates the need for us to act quickly to meet the demand that lies ahead,” he said.
Government officials estimate that developments in the Middle East are affecting the international tourism market as a whole, with Greece attempting to maintain its advantage of stability.
The reference to labor issues and wages
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also made a special mention of labor issues in the tourism sector, emphasizing the climate of cooperation that, as he said, prevails in Rhodes between employees and employers.
“There is labor peace—the atmosphere between employees and employers is very good—the collective bargaining agreement in Rhodes offers higher wages,” he noted.
The Prime Minister added that the growth of tourism must also be reflected in workers’ incomes.
“Where tourism is doing well, both employers and employees must benefit,” he said.
