«To take back the relevant decisions and review them», calls the Property Commission, in a statement, the municipal faction of the major majority, «People First».
The announcement cites the coronavirus pandemic as the number one deterrent to any increase in beach rentals, especially since the general health uncertainty does not allow for safe predictions of this year's tourist traffic levels.
Regarding the case of the cave in Chitra, the faction characterizes the decision of Enchoriu to impose rent on the businessman who operates there, as a «bad decision», with the author of the statement to ask «what exactly are we renting, the boat ride?»
In conclusion, the party believes that both decisions are moving in the «wrong direction», as they threaten the tourism product itself.
Read the relevant press release of the municipal party «People First».
We express our universal opposition to the increase of prices on the beaches for rent. In the midst of the crisis of mockery, any increase is unthinkable. The Municipal Authority and Domestic Property should not stand against the professionals but next to them. Who can discount the tourist traffic this season? The law of the market states that any increase in the individual elements of the tourist product is a cost passed on to the visitor. And finally, it is up to all stakeholders to decide whether they want the tourism product or not.
The decision number 03/2021_15 January 2021 of the Property Committee of Kythera and Antikythera on the determination of the starting price of the open tender for the rental of the Cave of Chitra, is a BAD Decision. The rocky islet of Chitra is not for rent. It is not a place where one person has the right to exclude another. Apart from the fact that this decision is legally controlled there is also the moral part. What exactly are we renting, the boat ride?
The above decisions of the Domestic Property, are two decisions to the WRONG direction. These are decisions that not only threaten the tourism professionals operating on our island, but threaten our own tourism product. The mentality of finding ready-made tourist products and resorting to the economic extermination of them is disastrous. Today it's Chitra and the beaches, tomorrow it will be the trails, the day after tomorrow it will be the actions in the gorges... Maybe in the distant future in order to increase revenue for road maintenance, will tolls be added to Dokana? There is one solution. The Commission should take back the relevant decisions and reconsider them.
The undersigned
Panagopoulos Dimitris, Stylianos Megalokonomos, Nikolaos Magoulas,
Kalligeros Ioannis, Georgilas Paraskevas
