Last summer, locals on Santorini protested against the impact of high visitor numbers. (Image: Getty)
There are fears that a popular holiday destination could see visitor numbers plummet after being hit by this year.
The Greek island of is one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations, but with thousands of earthquakes rattling the region since January, one cruise operator has already turned away from the island as the holiday season beckons.
Antonis Pagonis, president of Greece’s Association of Hoteliers said: “”In the past two days, we have seen a drop in bookings, but we hope this will be short-lived.”
His comments come as experts say they cannot confidently predict when the quakes will stop.
popularity growth in the last decade has seen the island become reliant on the tourism industry and the thousands of Greeks who travel to the island each summer for work.
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The picturesque buildings and stunning coastline have seen Santorini’s popularity rise (Image: Getty)
However the popularity has caused uproar amongst some residents, about the impact that tourism is having on public services and property prices.
The could mean that even if holidaymakers travel to , there might not be enough staff in the hotels to accommodate them.
Manos has worked as a bartender on the island for five years but is worried that the impact of the earthquakes could cause tourist figures to fall.
He told the : “It’s not that I’m afraid of earthquakes – Santorini always shakes.
“I’m worried there won’t be enough tourists. If the season is weak, I might not make as much money, or they might not need me for the whole summer. I can’t take that risk.”
As a result, Manos has taken a job in and will not be returning to this holiday season.
Declining visitor numbers and difficulty attracting staff are not the only impacts of the tremors. The quakes are also slowing down the construction industry, which usually thrives during the quieter summer months.
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Locals have complained about the impact of too many tourists on the island. (Image: Getty)
Across the island, work has ground to a halt as hotel owners, concerned that visitors will fail to come, have paused planned construction work, leaving workers calling on the government to pay their salaries.
Mr Pagonis said: “We have submitted a series of proposals to the Government to support both the existing workforce on the island and those looking to work during the season.”
authorities have placed emergency crews on the island to help in the event of a serious occurrence, but some in the tourism industry feel that more needs to be done.
Margarita Karamolegkou, who owns four hotels in Santorini, said: “The challenges won’t disappear once the earthquakes stop.
“During the season, the island sees 70,000 workers and 160,000 visitors daily. While the state has acted quickly in response to the earthquake, we have long been asking for improvements such as a new port.”
is crucial to overall economy, accounting for 2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year and generating a total of £4.9 billion.