With 90% of the island’s income coming from tourism, the current crisis around ongoing earth tremors in Santorini could have serious implications.
CGTN’s Evangelo Sipsas found preparations for the summer season that would normally be well underway have been put on hold amid the ongoing uncertainty.
#Santorini #Earthquakes
CGTN’s Evangelo Sipsas found preparations for the summer season that would normally be well underway have been put on hold amid the ongoing uncertainty.
#Santorini #Earthquakes
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NewsTranscript
00:00The tremors continue here on the island of Santorini with even the police putting some
00:07tape here to make sure that people will not enter areas that perhaps could see some damage
00:13from the earthquakes.
00:14But you know what else is facing damage right now?
00:16The businesses.
00:18And usually if you've been to Santorini, you would know that where I'm standing, if you
00:21come here during the summer, it is full of people.
00:24You could barely walk.
00:26But being empty like this during this time around is quite normal because it is off-season
00:31and it is winter.
00:33The one thing though that is not normal is that these places, still being closed, will
00:38have people working here, preparing for the upcoming summer season.
00:43Painting, cutting tiles, cleaning, doing whatever they can because it is a busy, busy season.
00:49And this island relies a lot on tourism.
00:53A lot of money comes to this island and 90% of this island relies on tourism.
00:59It even contributes up to 6 billion euros a year to the overall economy of the country.
01:06So you understand, this is a significant blow if these tremors continue to local businesses.
01:13Now as it is quite early to see the impacts of these phenomena, what we are expecting
01:20is in the next few days and weeks to see if more people are going to be coming here
01:25to prepare because the people that we spoke to as well as the local authorities, they
01:29are concerned.
01:30They are concerned that if these tremors continue, things can remain quiet as they are right
01:35now.
01:36And that's why they are calling on the government to help them and do whatever they can so they
01:40can keep the sun shining over this beautiful island.