Forest fire will not affect tourism in Chalkidiki, hoteliers told the Athens News Agency. A massive forest fire that broke out Monday afternoon and have already devastated 40,000 stremma (10,000 acres) of virgin pine and fir forest and olive groves in Chalkidiki will not affect tourism in the region, said Gerasimos Bakoyiannis, president of the Association of Chalkidiki Hoteliers.

Speaking to ANA-MPA, Bakoyiannis said that “large tour operators said they would not cancel their holiday packages to Chalkidiki” and noted that the region expected new tourist groups to arrive normally from Monday.

“We spoke with everyone,” Dinos Tornedoukas, vice-president of the Association, told ANA-MPA. “Companies such as Tomson, Tui, Thomas Cook and Neckerman said they did not intend to cancel their holiday packages and reassured their clients over teh quality of tourist services offered in Chalkidiki.”

Only two small hotels have been destroyed by the fire in the region, while none of the large hotel units have suffered any damages.
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