Meeting finds Faliraki accord

IMPROVED communication, clear policing and closer relationships with suppliers are the key to avoiding the crisis faced by Faliraki this summer, tourism chiefs have agreed.

Federation of Tour Operators director-general Andy Cooper and TUI UK head of UK operations Colin McGregor met the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the British ambassador and consul in Athens last week to consider improvements following a chain of disgraceful events involving British tourists this summer and the death of a 17-year-old after a brawl.

Cooper also travelled to Rhodes to meet the mayor of Faliraki, the chief of police, the local hotel association and local bar owners’ associations to discuss issues now the season has ended. He said there was a willingness to reach a solution.

“The behaviour of some customers this summer has passed the boundaries of acceptability and the problem must be dealt with appropriately,” he said.

“Everyone is eager to try to prevent future problems.”

Cooper said the strategy could also be transferred to other problem resorts such as Kavos in Corfu and Malia in Crete. McGregor was unavailable for comment.

According to the GNTO, 2003 Faliraki figures will be on a par with last year but operators report bookings for 2004 are down 19%. In a statement, the tourist board said the push on cheap late holidays following the Iraq war had compounded the destination’s problems. The statement added British operators had committed themselves to undertaking initiatives to improve the resort, attend further meetings and also to send out journalists to report on the improvements in Faliraki.

GNTO UK and Ireland director Panos Argyros said: “In future, tour operators have to promote it in a different way, sell it in a different way and deliver in a different way.”