The tourist season opened in Greece on Saturday earlier than ever with the first charter flights carrying British tourists arriving at Rhodes.
The first international flight from London’s Heathrow landed at midday on Saturday, followed by one from Gatwick airport and one from Manchester.
In a statement, the mayor of Rhodes, Antonis Kambourakis, underlined: “Rhodes is once again at the top. For the first time so early, the tourist season opens in Rhodes with charter flights from Great Britain. Rhodes marks the opening of the summer for all of Greece.”
Members of the tourism department of the Municipality of Rhodes welcomed some 140 passengers from the first flight, handing out Greek flags and bags with traditional products.
Last month, Greece’s Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias said that Greece will experience a 20 percent increase in tourism this year. He also predicted a lengthening of the season this summer.
The comments were made during a speech on the island of Rhodes, which the minister described as the “flagship of tourism.”