“As very rare as it is for a meteorite to fall on Zakynthos, it was equally rare that a shipwreck went on the island and did not crash on the rocks, but sat in the middle of a lake, as happened with the “Panagiotis” in Navagio. This ship was built, became a poster and became a landmark of Zakynthos and is why people from all over the planet visit the island with the dream of visiting the Shipwreck.
Of course, Zakynthos is not only the Shipwreck, its culture, its tradition is rich, but it has a landmark, like Paris the Eiffel Tower, or New York the statue of Liberty, landmarks that many people visit. We, the people of culture, are asked to create the right conditions to visit the Shipwreck from a cultural point of view.
The National Technical University of Athens, the best in the country and one of the most famous institutions in the world, is coming and preparing a study that I consider to be very good, multi-level and comprehensive. I would say a road map for how we should move. Now we have a stake in front of us, to follow this NTUA road map, but also to enrich it.
The whole plan is divided into different stages but the first and the most important one is the rescue of the ship, and from a cigarette shop we knew it was, we got to the point to learn the history of the ship from she was created, rich in history. This also creates a legend around this landmark.
In parallel with the maintenance of Panagiotis and the wall on the coast so that it is not eroded by the waves, coordination groups should be created for other issues as well, the main one being the establishment of a management body that will deal with each of them. the economic activity there. Why is it bad to submit a ticket? Has anyone thought of going to the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls and not paying? This must also be done in Navagio, with a ticket of say 5 euros, which means that the income in one season will reach 5 million euros.
Some people say that there are other serious issues like water supply, drainage and I agree, but for that reason should we not take advantage of this landmark? With the income generated, important projects can be completed on the island.
Of course, a museum should be created for the history of the ship, we would also contribute to the geodynamic history of Zakynthos, for its seismic history, and we can also show our local products. That is why I said that we can enrich the study of NTUA.
From then on, when the beach is ready, conditions, rules, the number of visitors allowed on each boat, on the beach when they land in a safe zone, far from Panagiotis, for a specific time and why not even with an increased fee for anyone coming to the beach.”