During an interview on OPEN TV, Deputy Migration Minister Sofia Voultepsi recommended that Greeks unable to afford island getaways consider spending their holidays on the mainland instead.
Addressing the issue of soaring ferry ticket prices to the Greek islands, Voultepsi acknowledged the challenges but remarked, “There are alternatives. I’m not saying there’s no solution; people can visit their villages or explore the mainland.”
In response, the main opposition party SYRIZA criticized Voultepsi’s comments, stating, “MPs are now officially suggesting that Greeks no longer have the right to visit the islands, which have effectively become a ‘forbidden zone’ for them.”
The rising costs of operations and wages are contributing to elevated ferry ticket prices, rendering island travel unaffordable for many Greeks this summer.