Yet again the tourist season will begin without proper infrastructure - the same old story!
tourism
19 Mar 2021
/ 12:19
CORFU. Rubbish, roads, traffic, parking, ramps, toilets, problems that should have been solved - if the three Mayors had worked together.
Ahead of the start of the new tourist season the Union of Tourist Guides and the Tourist Coach Owners' Association have issued the following statement:
As we prepare for the second year of this unprecedented pandemic that has hit us all psychologically and financially we can witness some hesitant steps being taken for the new tourist season.
We cannot, however, be other than disappointed with the time that has been wasted. A whole year has passed that should have been used to improve the infrastructure in our abandoned island. This could have been done if all those involved in tourism had been called together for a serious and fruitful discussion.
The prerequisite for this to have happened was that all three Mayors worked together - perhaps they forget that the island has common interests from the north down to the south. Although there are many issues that need to be solved, we will try to focus on the main ones in the hope that something can be done even at the last moment.
1. Waste: We hear from the media that the shipping of waste off the island will resume soon and the Regional Administration tells us that the invitation for tenders for the construction of the solid waste management facility will go out shortly. Nevertheless, we hope we don't have to again experience the situation we had in 2018.
2. Roads: We have been informed by the Ionian Islands Regional Administration about the work they plan to do on the roads they are responsible for and await a similar update from the Municipalities regarding the roads which are their responsibility. However, if the sides of the roads are not cleaned up, then they will remain dangerous. Furthermore, the lack of signage and the old and wrong signage that exists are shameful and woe betide anyone that doesn't have GPS and depends on the signs.
3. Traffic: This may not be a problem at the moment but the tourist season is just around the corner - so let's do something about it before it's too late. The problem is made worse, of course, by the 20 and more open-topped buses as we have pointed out in the past and has been ascertained by other groups and organisations.
4. Parking: The unacceptable situation seen every day at the Achillion Palace, Kanoni and other tourist spots creates incredible problems for visitors and local residents. We demand more parking spaces for coaches and cars immediately in all these locations including the Archaeological Museum, Mon Repos and the 'Mayor's Step'.
5. Ramps: The unsuitable pavements with lampposts in the middle and lack of ramps for those with mobility problems and baby buggies along with senseless drivers blocking those that do exist make our beautiful town inhospitable.
6. Toilets: The lack of public toilets in busy areas in town and elsewhere (such as Paleokastritsa) forces both visitors and residents to go to cafes and restaurants.
Consequently, we request that the necessary work be done immediately before it is too late. We hope that they won't have to complain to the media again this year. Let's take care of our island for once before the arrival of our visitors.
Magda Kousouni
President, Union of Tourist Guides
Nikos Tsagaris
President, Tourist Coach Owners' Association
As we prepare for the second year of this unprecedented pandemic that has hit us all psychologically and financially we can witness some hesitant steps being taken for the new tourist season.
We cannot, however, be other than disappointed with the time that has been wasted. A whole year has passed that should have been used to improve the infrastructure in our abandoned island. This could have been done if all those involved in tourism had been called together for a serious and fruitful discussion.
The prerequisite for this to have happened was that all three Mayors worked together - perhaps they forget that the island has common interests from the north down to the south. Although there are many issues that need to be solved, we will try to focus on the main ones in the hope that something can be done even at the last moment.
1. Waste: We hear from the media that the shipping of waste off the island will resume soon and the Regional Administration tells us that the invitation for tenders for the construction of the solid waste management facility will go out shortly. Nevertheless, we hope we don't have to again experience the situation we had in 2018.
2. Roads: We have been informed by the Ionian Islands Regional Administration about the work they plan to do on the roads they are responsible for and await a similar update from the Municipalities regarding the roads which are their responsibility. However, if the sides of the roads are not cleaned up, then they will remain dangerous. Furthermore, the lack of signage and the old and wrong signage that exists are shameful and woe betide anyone that doesn't have GPS and depends on the signs.
3. Traffic: This may not be a problem at the moment but the tourist season is just around the corner - so let's do something about it before it's too late. The problem is made worse, of course, by the 20 and more open-topped buses as we have pointed out in the past and has been ascertained by other groups and organisations.
4. Parking: The unacceptable situation seen every day at the Achillion Palace, Kanoni and other tourist spots creates incredible problems for visitors and local residents. We demand more parking spaces for coaches and cars immediately in all these locations including the Archaeological Museum, Mon Repos and the 'Mayor's Step'.
5. Ramps: The unsuitable pavements with lampposts in the middle and lack of ramps for those with mobility problems and baby buggies along with senseless drivers blocking those that do exist make our beautiful town inhospitable.
6. Toilets: The lack of public toilets in busy areas in town and elsewhere (such as Paleokastritsa) forces both visitors and residents to go to cafes and restaurants.
Consequently, we request that the necessary work be done immediately before it is too late. We hope that they won't have to complain to the media again this year. Let's take care of our island for once before the arrival of our visitors.
Magda Kousouni
President, Union of Tourist Guides
Nikos Tsagaris
President, Tourist Coach Owners' Association
