The Ioannina Hoteliers’ Association is calling for the creation of an airlift base in Epirus, based in Ioannina, as well as the establishment of rules for hiking in the Vikos Gorge, just 24 hours after the tragic death of the 20-year-old American tourist.
As the Association points out, the area is not covered by existing infrastructure, as the nearest airlift helicopter is located in Elefsina, from where it took off for the recent incident, reaching its destination after almost three hours. “In such cases, every minute counts,” the announcement emphasizes.
At the same time, the Union calls on the State to proceed with regulating access to the Vikos Gorge, by implementing strict security and control measures, such as specific entrances and exits to the gorge, the mandatory presence of certified mountain guides, medical personnel, guards and firefighters, the establishment of an entrance fee to ensure the sustainability of the above services, as well as the regular maintenance and marking of the trails, a mandatory medical certificate of good health for hikers, according to the standards of other high-risk activities, and the development of a special offline hiking application, with the ability to send a GPS signal in case of emergency.
“It is not possible for the entire Northwestern Greece to depend on Attica for airlifts,” it notes, emphasizing that the Prefecture of Ioannina has two adequate hospitals, but also increased traffic from travelers participating in activities such as hiking, skiing and rafting. “There is no room for compromise when it comes to safety,” the statement concludes.
