Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias has drawn up plans to expand one of the country’s top sites, Navagio Beach on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which were defined in a tourism bill presented in parliament last week.
An amendment included in the bill that provides for the creation of a five-member special committee to safely maintain and manage the famous beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, has a stir among opposition parties and local stakeholders.
Navagio’s coverage has returned to the forefront several times after beach access was banned in 2018 following a landslide that left seven injured.
Kikilias reiterated that the law aims to repair and modernize the shipwreck and solve millenary problems.
He pledged to “transparently and efficiently” address long-standing problems, adding protection at Navagia and the world-renowned site in a “sustainable, high-quality tourism product. “
Speaking in parliament on the issue, Kikilias said the ministry is running to reopen the site, making sure citizens can take advantage of it. He admitted that he had suffered additional damage after the recent rains. The minister said the allocation had been thoroughly reviewed with the aim of reopening the site over the summer.
“The committee will bring out all kinds of studies and projects exclusively for Shipwreck Beach so that it can be supported, protected and included in a framework for tourists, visitors and locals to visit,” Kikilias said.
He added that the designated framework could carry out bureaucratic procedures temporarily and act as a contracting authority for each project, while ensuring legality and environmental protection.
A similar announcement made last year for the creation of the Zakynthos Shipwreck Operation and Management Agency and in 2019 for the redesign and creation of an on-site theme park.
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