They arrive for a short day on the occasion of the Muslim “Seker Bayram”
With nearly 2,000 Turkish tourists who chose to come to Mytilene to celebrate the Muslim “Seker Bayram” today the tourist season in Lesvos opened on Saturday, March 29th.
Today on the island with routes from the opposite port of Ayvalık, about 1,000 visitors arrived in Mytilene, and so many others come tomorrow Sunday, March 30th. All in their entirety will take a short holiday, as the religious celebration is three days, but the Turkish government gave a “permission” for the celebration it holds until the following Sunday, April 6th.
“Today is the first day of arrivals of Turkish visitors in Mytilene, speaking to RES, the tourist agent and president of the Department of Tourism of the Lesvos Chamber, Aris Lazaris. A very useful economic injection in the Lesbian market. ” As Mr Lazaris said, the Turkish tourist market is now a pillar for the local lesbian economy and notes the positive development of the few days before the issue of the so -called Viza Express tourist entry visa to the ports of the eastern Aegean islands. This development was accepted by the European Commission with the recommendation of the Greek Government.
“Of course, Mr. Lazaris notes, we must take into account the economic crisis and the simultaneous political prudence at this time in the neighboring country, two factors that do not favor many days or even a day -long holiday even by residents of Asia Minor and Constantinople.” The president of the Lesvos Tourism and Travel Agents Association, Panagiotis Hadjikyriakos, also speaking to the RES argued that “the start of the tourist season with the arrival of Turkish tourists is particularly important. Although political and economic problems in Turkey may limit the number of visitors who can afford a trip abroad. “
At the same time, he stressed that Lesvos has upgraded its tourism services, offering a comprehensive hospitality experience to Turkish visitors. According to Mr. Hadjikyriakos, the charter flights to Lesvos with European visitors begin. Let’s note the opening in May of the port of Petra in northern Lesvos with four Ayvalık ships, the opening of the ports in Dikeli, opposite Mytilene, and to Ali Agha, near Smyrna, with daily routes in June.
“Given the conditions in Turkey, our goal this year is to maintain last year’s arrivals, which have surpassed every previous record, and reached 122,000 visitors,” Mr Hadjikyriakos concluded. Similar to that in Lesvos, the situation on the part of Turkish visitors and in Chios where at least 3,500 visitors are expected to take a short holiday. According to data by the President of the Chios Hoteliers Association, Mitsis Paidousis and the President of the Chios Room Rental Association, George Mylonadis are expected to 3,500 Turkish visitors until Tuesday.
