Unbelievable but true! According to reliable information from the Ministry of Transport, the prosecutor of Naxos proposes to ban helicopter flights in Santorini. It is hard to believe how we have come to this point. Small interests and personal rivalries between neighbours and hoteliers seem to have led, at the prosecutor’s request, to a search of the island’s landing fields. This recommendation argues that we should limit ourselves to the use of airplanes in the country of 2000 islands, which already has serious transport problems.
With airports almost non-existent for helicopter use and few certified heliports, in a country where even the most basic supplies such as pins are imported and where tourism is one of the last major sources of revenue, there seems to be a final attempt to hurt even this sector. High tourism is a big deal, but it also requires the appropriate infrastructure.
All over the world, helicopters fly according to their design, whereas here, everyone, ignorant of the subject, paraphrases or ignores the legislation to give their own interpretation. Interpretations that ultimately lead to self-destruction and the disappearance of all productive activity.
Thousands of visitors should be informed that they may never reach their destination on flights booked and prepaid months in advance. The embassies of their countries should also take note of the situation.
The state is proving to be ineffective, acting spasmodically and without being fully aware of what is happening around it. This move, if implemented, could have disastrous consequences for both air transport and tourism on the Greek islands, dealing a serious blow to our country’s global image, causing irreparable damage and undermining its credibility and prestige on the international map.
