Rhodes: Hotel vouchers after forest fire 2023
In 2024, the Greek state will issue vouchers for those hotel guests who had to flee the forest fires on Rhodes in 2023. However, various restrictions apply, which we will discuss below.
The Greek island of Rhodes near Turkey is a top holiday destination. All major tour operators include the destination in their programmes. Every year, around 2.5 million tourists arrive mainly via Rhodes Town Airport and then spread out across the island. After an extreme heatwave throughout the Mediterranean region in the summer of 2023, the forests also burned in Rhodes. During the last two weeks of July last year, firefighting crews were unable to contain a large forest fire.
The flames quickly reached several holiday resorts by the sea and also the famous Lindos on the south-east coast with its dozens of hotels near the acropolis there. In addition to around 15,000 hectares of forest, an estimated 50,000 old olive trees burned down and thousands of sheep and goats died. Fortunately, there were no human casualties. Nevertheless, around 20,000 holidaymakers had to flee from the fire and smoke and most of them had to be taken to emergency accommodation.
In some cases, those affected fled the fires on their own in dramatic fashion. Four out of five of the island's inhabitants live from tourism. Accordingly, the regional administration is endeavouring to quickly restore the charred image. In addition to a reconstruction and reforestation programme, Greece decided to provide state-issued vouchers for affected hotel guests from 2023. The general conditions in brief:
- The so-called Rodos Week gives those affected a week's free accommodation in participating hotels
- It is only possible to consume this Rodos Week in the low season
- In spring, between 10 April 2024 and 31 May 2024
- In autumn, between 1 October 2024 and 15 November 2024
- The affected beneficiaries are those hotel holidaymakers who were evacuated from a hotel on Rhodes during July 2023 due to the forest fires.
- In order to benefit from Rodos Week, beneficiaries must register and apply for the hotel voucher.
- The stay during the affected period will be confirmed by the Greek Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with the hotel operators and tour operators. The application therefore requires name, e-mail address, mobile phone number, proof of identity (passport or identity card). In addition, data of the stay from 2023 must be provided; length of stay, room category, reservation number, if applicable, through which tour operator booked.
- After the details have been checked, those affected will receive an invitation by e-mail to make use of an electronic voucher. This e-voucher allows them to choose from a pre-selection of participating hotels and available periods on seven consecutive days.
- The hotel or room category chosen by the beneficiaries must correspond to the 2023 star rating. The amount of the e-voucher that the hotel receives from the state is based on the star rating and ranges between 300 and 500 euros.
- If beneficiaries have decided in favour of a stay, they must first confirm availability with the hotel. Additional services can also be negotiated. Only then does the hotel company issue its own reservation number and the beneficiaries receive a password by e-mail to activate the e-voucher.
- The e-vouchers are non-transferable and cannot be used for AirBnB bookings from 2023.
- Greece has set up an input mask for written enquiries and a telephone enquiry service: +30 215 215 7822 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
ECC Austria is the contact point appointed by the Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs for legal matters relating to ‘Danger at the holiday destination’. We are happy to answer your questions on this topic!
Our hotline advises you
Tuesday and Thursday 9 am - 1 pm
on 01 - 588 77 63
When danger threatens at the destination
Greek government page on the e-vouchers for the 2023 forest fires
https://vouchers.gov.gr/rodos-week
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Teaser-Image: Lubos K / Shutterstock
