‘Skiathos has suffered, but we are operational and welcoming guests’

“Skiathos went through a very difficult day yesterday [5 September]," said Panos Andritsopoulos, president of the Skiathos Hoteliers’ Association, citing the impact of a police curfew which limited unnecessary travel to ensure people’s safety.

However, Andritdopoulos echoed the sentiments of Greece’s tourism authorities during the recent wildfires in Rhodes, insisting that the country’s spirit and warm tradition of hospitality would carry its tourism industry through another tough moment.

"All damage caused from the flooding across the island is being dealt with as of today [6 September] and with the weather conditions having improved, incoming flights have resumed and landings have already started," he continued.

"A number of hotels across the island have had to deal with various issues from the flooding, but our priority is that everyone is safe and all guests are being treated with warm Greek hospitality. The island has suffered but is operational and is welcoming all guests."

‘Very much operational’

Konstantinos Santikos, managing director of the Santikos Collection, was equally philosophical, albeit frank about the impact on the island and his business. "The extreme weather that has hit the island of Skiathos in the past 24 hours has certainly tested our resilience and capabilities," he admitted.

"Ensuring the safety of everyone on the island has been the utmost priority and work has started in earnest to ensure flights can resume as quickly as possible with priority on repatriation flights and supporting those whose accommodation has been affected."

Santikos said his adults-only Aegean Suites properly, set into the hills skirting Skiathos town, had suffered some "minor flooding" affected a small number of rooms, which has already been rectified. "The property is up and running with water and electricity with all guests and staff safe and well," he said.

Santikos’s beach-side Princess Resort in Agia Paraskevi, meanwhile, suffered some damage from the "severe flooding" but is running off generators, with power expected to be restored on Wednesday. "The property is very much operational, with rooms thankfully unaffected and the kitchens up and running ensuring our guests are safe and fed," added Santikos.

"Works are currently under way to rectify the affected grounds and it will be business as usual with everything being restored within the next 48hrs."