“Today is the first day of arrivals of Turkish visitors in Mytilene,” says Chamber President of the Chamber of Tourism
With nearly 2000 Turkish tourists who chose to come to Mytilene to celebrate the Muslim “Seker Bayram” the tourist season in Lesvos opened Saturday, March 29th.
Today on the island with routes from the opposite port of Ayvalık, about 1000 visitors arrived in Mytilene and so many more come tomorrow. All in all, they will take a short holiday after the religious celebration is three days but the Turkish government gave a “permission” for the celebration it holds until the following Sunday, April 6th.
“Today is the first day of arrivals of Turkish visitors in Mytilene, says speaking to RES the tourist agent and president of the Department of Tourism of the Lesvos Chamber of Lesvos Lazaris. A very useful financial injection in the lesbian market.” As Mr Lazaris said, the Turkish tourist market is now a pillar for the local lesbian economy and notes the positive development of the few days before the issue of the so -called Viza Express tourist entry visa to the ports of the eastern Aegean islands. This development was accepted by the European Commission with the recommendation of the Greek Government.
“Of course, Mr. Lazaris notes, we must take into account the economic crisis and the simultaneous political crisis at this time in the neighboring country, two factors that do not favor many days or even a day -long holiday even by residents of Asia Minor beaches and Istanbul.
The president of the Lesvos Tourism and Travel Agents Association, Panagiotis Hadjikyriakos, also speaking to the EIA RES argued that “the start of the tourist season with the arrival of Turkish tourists is particularly important. Although political and economic problems in Turkey may be in Turkey. At the same time, he stressed that Lesvos has upgraded its tourism services, offering a comprehensive hosting experience to Turkish visitors.
According to Mr. Hadjikyriakos, the charter flights to Lesvos with European visitors begin.
Let’s note the opening in May of the port of Petra in northern Lesvos with four Ayvalık ships, the opening of the ports in Dikeli, opposite Mytilene, and to Ali Agha, near Smyrna, with daily routes in June.
“Given the conditions in Turkey, our goal this year is to maintain last year’s arrivals, which have surpassed any previous record, and reached 122,000 visitors,” Mr Hadjikyriakos concluded.
Similar to that in Lesvos, the situation on the part of Turkish visitors and in Chios where at least 3,500 visitors are expected to take a short holiday. According to data by the President of the Chios Hoteliers Association, Mitsis Paidousis and the President of the Chios Room Rental Room Association, George Mylonadis are expected to 3,500 Turkish visitors until Tuesday.
SOURCE: Thetoc.gr