When tourism numbers prosper
Η υπεραπόδοση των ομίλων και επιχειρήσεων, που δραστηριοποιούνται στον κερκυραϊκό τουρισμό, ακούστηκε προκλητικά στους κερκυραϊκούς φορείς και θεσμούς, που βρίσκονται στο χείλος της χρεωκοπίας.
CORFU. This is not an illusion but a colossal gap, which is widening, between the performance of major tourism Groups and the condition of local institutions and organisations that are starving.
The stark contrast and clash of emotions between the growth of numbers and the near bankruptcy of local administration unfolded at yesterday's tourism meeting.
The highlight was the outburst of the mayor, Stefanos Poulimenos, directed at Fraport officials, accusing them of displaying at the least an indifferent attitude toward the town and the island hosting them, enabling the company to achieve the performance it presented. On the other hand, the municipality is impoverished, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The mayor revealed that they barely managed to pay employees’ salaries at the last minute, adding to the tension following the euphoria sparked by the positive reports from airport, port and hotel representatives.
The Fraport representative countered that contractual terms are being followed to the letter and that any changes to the company's obligations in terms of reciprocal benefits would require renegotiations with the central government. In other words, a dead end! It was stated that the persistence of local institutional representatives in avoiding direct criticism of government policies while targeting scapegoats may briefly please the public but does not go beyond that.
As for the seasonal review, the airport—with 2 million arrivals—aims for a realistic doubling of that number (Fraport mentioned a target of 3.8 million arrivals in the near future). Meanwhile, the port recorded over 800,000 day-trip cruise visitors, and the marina and tourist moorings are "sold out from the start."
During discussions, the threat of water scarcity during peak consumption months was brought up again, along with repeated mentions of pending desalination projects and the urgent need for interventions in the "leaking" water network. The dire financial condition of the Municipal Water and Sewerage Company (DEYAK) was also mentioned, although no reference was made to recent legislative provisions linking debt financing of such utilities to their voluntary consolidation—a move entirely contrary to the course being pursued in Corfu.
In exactly 60 days, God willing, the 2025 tourist season will begin.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
