Santorini fears summer tourism season, earthquake hits island

February is the informal start of the tourism season in Santorini, Greece – when the first cruise ship is approaching and the Easter holiday is approaching.

But as a parade has turned around as thousands of earthquakes shaking the island since January and experts can’t say when it will end, there are fears that the island’s most important industry could face a tough year .

“We have seen a drop in bookings over the past two days, but hopefully it will be short-lived,” said Antonis Pagonis, president of the Greek Hotel Management Association.

But even if tourists don’t choose to go elsewhere this year, the hotel still faces the prospect of not having enough staff to come to serve guests in the summer.

Santorini (one of the most visited islands in Greece) relies heavily on seasonal workers from Greece and other regions abroad who help just over 15,000 permanent populations on the island every day during peak season. Tens of thousands of tourists.

But uncertainty over how the tremor will affect travel numbers has forced some workers to rethink their options this summer.

“It's not that I'm afraid of earthquakes – Santorini is always shaken,” Manos said.

His job is demanding, and at the peak of the tourist season, the crowds swell, but the financial returns have always made it worth it. This year, he feared that this was not the case.

“I'm worried there won't be enough tourists. If the season is weak, I probably won't make much money or they might not need me all summer. I can't take risks.”

Instead, Manos said he already worked in Corfu and would not return to Santorini this year.

And, not only during the summer, the island needs temporary labor – now is the time to renovate the hotel before summer.

The work has stopped due to safety concerns about earthquakes, and hotel owners (worrying that workers will go elsewhere) are pushing the government to continue to pay most of their salaries until the work begins again.

“We have made a series of recommendations to the government to support the island's existing workforce and those who want to work in the season,” Mr Pagonis said.

He added that the government has responded positively, but “whether these measures will be implemented remains to be seen.”

While Greek authorities have responded quickly to the risks of the tremor – placing rescue teams in Santorini and introducing a state of emergency to speed up aid – some in the tourism industry believe this requires investment in the island’s infrastructure . .

“Once the earthquake stops, the challenge won't go away,” said Margarita Karamolegkou.

“Through the season, the island sees 70,000 workers and 160,000 tourists a day. Although the state takes quick action in response to earthquakes, we have long been looking for improvements, such as the New Port.”

There are also calls for stricter regulations on private rental properties, which may not meet safety standards with hotels on the island.

Santorini accounts for about 2.5% of Greece's GDP, generating an estimated €5.9 billion (£4.9 billion) per year.

Although not cancelled so far, hotel operators report booking and industry professionals warn that the impact on businesses could be severe if the situation lasts for a month.

During a visit to the island on Friday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokis acknowledged the importance of protecting Santorini's reputation, describing it as an “iconic tourist destination” and said: “We have a responsibility to protect its reputation, maintain its reputation and ensure that 2025 2025 is another great year for tourism.”

Ms Karamolegkou, whose four hotels employ 120 people, admitted the challenge and admitted that she might have to postpone opening her own hotel and business if the tremor lasts longer. But she remains optimistic about the future of the island’s most important industry.

“We have been in this business for decades and operated at the highest level. I believe our service will remain excellent even with fewer staff.”