Vassilis Papaoikonomou: “The objectives of the municipal authority of Antonis Kambourakis have succeeded”

2023-07-09 07:39:59

The president of the Municipal Port Fund of the South Dodecanese, Mr. Vassilis Papaikonomou, expresses the belief that the goals of the municipal authority of Antonis Kambourakis have succeeded and will succeed in order to complete the next term as well.
He also talks about his experience in this position, the extremely positive elements of the cruise in 2022 and the current year for Rhodes, as well as the projects that are underway.

• Let’s start with the cruise. After 2022 which was a year of recovery, tell us how 2023 is shaping up?
I am pleased to inform you and your readers that compared to the year 2022 the cruise is showing a spectacular increase of 58% in passengers in the year 2023. Specifically, according to the data of our service, until the month of June approximately 161,000 cruise passengers visited our island, while in the corresponding period last year we had approximately 102,000 passengers. And of course, the increased demand of the tourist port from the cruise companies is not accidental, but is largely due to the maintenance of the port’s infrastructure and the modern security system we have in place.
• Can the port of Rhodes eventually become a Home Port or an Interport? How is the effort progressing?
A great effort is being made by the Port Fund, at the level of consultations with the companies at the international cruise exhibitions, in order to promote the port of Rhodes as a Home Port. Already our facilities were successfully tested as a Home Port during the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers of the SILVER SPIRIT cruise ship in May this year and we received a congratulatory letter from the owning company. The same will be repeated in the month of July from the same cruise ship. To this end, in order to upgrade the image of the Tourist Port, the removal of the seized cars of the Rhodes Customs and their storage in another safe place outside the port is underway at our own expense. The presentations of the Tourist Port of Rhodes at international exhibitions as Home Port will continue for the next year in order to attract other companies.

• Rhodes, as a destination, participates in international and Greek tourist exhibitions. What are the messages?
The presence of the South Dodecanese Port Fund at all domestic and international cruise fairs is now continuous and organized with the participation of administrative employees of our service and the cruise consultant. Our participation, with the presentation of our ports and the distribution of advertising material, is always of great interest and gives us the opportunity to talk and have personal contact with the senior executives of the companies. For this reason, with more experience each time, we will continue to promote the cruise at the fairs wherever and whenever they are held.
• Marine tourism is not only about cruising. Can Rhodes also develop yachting? What’s happening this year?
As a Port Fund recognizing the demand for private sea tours we try to increase the comparative advantages of our islands against other competitive destinations. For this reason we have not stopped the works of creation and maintenance of our ports in all without exception the islands of our jurisdiction. In Symi, works are being carried out to restore the damage caused by the natural disaster, while in Petalo, it is in

development project in order to dock more ships at the dock and to free up berths for private boats, in Tilos after the creation of a land port zone an EIA is being carried out for the existing projects and for the creation of a tourist leisure port, in Kastellorizo ​​and Kasos the studies are being carried out for the repair of the docks of the ports, in Halki we are proceeding with the delineation of the port zone with the bathymetric survey and reefs of the port. All the above projects, in addition to the creation of port infrastructure, aim to attract private maritime tourism by operating the ports of our islands as a port network.

• What are the projects currently “running” in Rhodes by the Municipal Port Fund? What are the goals until the end of the year?
In Rhodes, studies are progressing for the construction, maintenance and troubleshooting of the ports of Akadia, Kameiro Skala and the fishing shelters in Faliraki, Plimmyri and Fanes. We are at the stage of updating the master plan of the Port of Rhodes (Kolonas, Angelon, Akadias) which, together with the completion of the wooden walkways along the entire length of the beach front, will upgrade the port infrastructure of Rhodes and redefine it as a modern maritime tourist destination.
For the coordinated effort, for the successful progress of the infrastructure projects and the upgrading of the ports of Rhodes, I would once again like to personally thank the mayor of Rhodes, Antonis Kambourakis, as all of the above is under his guidance, supervision and direct assistance. The development of port infrastructures and marine tourism of Rhodes and our islands, as a vital sector of their economy, require vigilance, will and above all love for our place.
• How do you judge the work of the municipal authority of Antonis Kambourakis so far? Are you satisfied? Do you think he achieved the initial goals he had set?
From the beginning, I allied with the faction of our mayor Antonis Kambourakis, because of the trust in his person and because of his successful course both as a hotelier and as president of the Rhodes Hoteliers’ Association, for the development of Rhodes tourism. And indeed, as an insider of the tourist product, he was involved in the promotion of Rhodes in the international markets, participating together with the South Aegean Region in all foreign tourist exhibitions. The fact that Rhodes shows a positive sign in tourism again this year while other popular destinations show a serious drop in arrivals is not at all accidental, but a consequence to a significant extent of the successful promotion of Rhodes by the municipal authority.
We have only recently emerged from the health crisis that paralyzed public administration and the progress of planned projects. Despite this, the municipal authority managed to sign the “historic” I could call a programming contract for the promotion of the Medieval City, which covers everything from infrastructure projects to the renovation of its buildings and monuments.
The National Theater and the New Agora, these historical landmarks of the city of Rhodes, will regain their glory after the signing of the corresponding programming and contracting contracts that were signed following the persistent efforts of our mayor and regional governor Giorgos Chatzimarkos.
I am mainly referring to these achievements because they concern the image of Rhodes to the outside world without, of course, neglecting and not considering the island’s water supply, asphalt paving, footpaths, the restoration of school buildings, nurseries and sports infrastructure that serve everyday life to be important. of our fellow citizens and are also considered important projects of the municipal authority. As an active member of the faction of Antonis Kambourakis, I could not be complacent and consider that the goals have been achieved, but that our goals, even with the obstacles we face, are on the way and evolving, constantly renewed and we hope our struggles and our efforts to a Rhodes worthy of its history and name to continue and succeed in our next term as municipal authority.