The disaster with the fires on Rhodes did “reach out” to travel agencies: tour operators around the world immediately cancel their tours to this island and return charters there. At least, according to the Greek press, this is what all the major suppliers of tourists from Great Britain and Germany have said.
Yes, TUI said it was canceling flights until at least Tuesday. Moreover, tourists who have a flight scheduled for these days can transfer their vacation to other destinations free of charge. Also, according to the company’s statement, tourists will return home from Rhodes on regular flights.
Jet2 Holidays has canceled programs until July 30. “Our priority in Rhodes, where the fire continues, is to evacuate tourists,” the tour operator said, adding that exchange and return processes will be decided individually with tourists. EasyJet Holidays has also withdrawn its program until 29 July. Tourists who booked tickets to Rhodes before this date should contact travel agencies for an alternative.
At the same time, it is reported that the fire, which started on Tuesday, has not been brought under control for almost a week. The flame, the height of which reached 30 meters in some places, reached the tourist resorts of Rhodes, Lindos, and Kalatu yesterday. On Sunday, a state of emergency was declared in the south of the island of Rhodes. There are still about 200,000 tourists on the island.
At the moment, the largest evacuation due to forest fires in the history of Greece is being carried out: 19,000 vacationers were evacuated from the beaches of the popular island of Rhodes. A critical situation unfolded in the southeast of the resort island: thousands of beach tourists were trapped and had to flee from hotels and escape from the fire by sea. Hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers are battling the blaze, but the heat brought by an African anticyclone that has blanketed southern Europe and coupled with the wind is working against the army and volunteers.
At the same time, tourists have to be transported even through other countries – yes, the first 95 tourists, transported by sea ferry, arrived in Turkish Marmaris. There are two more ferries “under steam”, also ready to leave to take tourists, and tour operators and local authorities are thinking about logistics