First tourists arrive in Corfu but hotels still closed
tourism
29 Mar 2022
/ 09:31
CORFU. The first international flights are arriving but most hotels are still closed.
Most hotels will be opening between 15 April and 15 May.
Corfu Hoteliers Association President Babis Voulgaris told Enimerosi that the only hotels open at the moment are those that operate all year round in Corfu Town and elsewhere. He said that two large hotel units are expected to open at the beginning of April - one in Agios Ioannis Peristeron and the other in Dassia - whereas most hotels are expected to start operating between the mid-April and mid-May, when the number of flights will begin to increase and the large tour operators will come into play.
"Visitors arriving now are staying at hotels in town that are open all year round, at Airbnb properties or they have villas here and are coming to get them ready for the summer," Mr. Voulgaris said.
Easter bookings at 40%
He said that bookings for the famous Corfu Easter are only at 40% at the moment. However, he expects this to change as the Easter period approaches and last-minute bookings come into play again.
Number of passengers who arrived on Sunday
The international flights that arrived at Corfu Airport on Sunday were on average 50-60% full. According to the President of Corfu Civil Aviation Employees Union Dimitris Roussos, the number of passengers on the 12 flights was satisfactory. 130 passengers arrived from Berlin, 137 from Brussels, 436 from London on four flights and 83 from Vienna, whereas there were just 19 from Milan Malpensa and 31 from Geneva. Eight flights were expected yesterday and ten are expected today.
With regard to the employment of the necessary personnel, according to Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union President Stamatis Pelais, this proceeding gradually starting with the staff that is required for preparing the properties, such as gardeners, general duties and technicians, which will be followed by housekeeping and cleaners and then others. He added that, whatever the occupancy rates, hotels are obliged to start all their personnel by 25 May.
Corfu Hoteliers Association President Babis Voulgaris told Enimerosi that the only hotels open at the moment are those that operate all year round in Corfu Town and elsewhere. He said that two large hotel units are expected to open at the beginning of April - one in Agios Ioannis Peristeron and the other in Dassia - whereas most hotels are expected to start operating between the mid-April and mid-May, when the number of flights will begin to increase and the large tour operators will come into play.
"Visitors arriving now are staying at hotels in town that are open all year round, at Airbnb properties or they have villas here and are coming to get them ready for the summer," Mr. Voulgaris said.
Easter bookings at 40%
He said that bookings for the famous Corfu Easter are only at 40% at the moment. However, he expects this to change as the Easter period approaches and last-minute bookings come into play again.
Number of passengers who arrived on Sunday
The international flights that arrived at Corfu Airport on Sunday were on average 50-60% full. According to the President of Corfu Civil Aviation Employees Union Dimitris Roussos, the number of passengers on the 12 flights was satisfactory. 130 passengers arrived from Berlin, 137 from Brussels, 436 from London on four flights and 83 from Vienna, whereas there were just 19 from Milan Malpensa and 31 from Geneva. Eight flights were expected yesterday and ten are expected today.
With regard to the employment of the necessary personnel, according to Corfu Hotel & Tourist Catering Employees Union President Stamatis Pelais, this proceeding gradually starting with the staff that is required for preparing the properties, such as gardeners, general duties and technicians, which will be followed by housekeeping and cleaners and then others. He added that, whatever the occupancy rates, hotels are obliged to start all their personnel by 25 May.
