Holidaying in Greece remains a popular choice for tourists and holidaymakers, despite the recent fires that have left parts of the Mediterranean islands’ countryside in ashes.
The fires claimed the lives of 64 people and destroyed nearly 500,000 acres of land, but that still hasn’t put off tourists visiting the country for a sunshine break, according to local travel officials.
Giannis Evangelous, President of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies, said that the damage experienced by the World Heritage site at Ancient Olympia was not having a noticeable effect on the region’s popularity with holidaymakers.
He said: "The scheduled arrivals during the weekend (August 25th to August 26th ran normally."
"Tourists arrivals via charter also ran normally in the airports of Andravida in the north-western Peloponnese in llia Prefecture while there was no problem with reservations in Ancient Olympia ."
It has been reported that the Greek government has budgeted around £230 million for emergency and aid funding in wake of the recent natural disaster .
Petros Molyviatis, the country’s Foreign Minister, said: "We hope to alleviate the suffering of those victims and we will also try to restore the area around Ancient Olympia ."
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