North Corfu Municipality Submits Memorandum to Tourism Minister on Critical Infrastructure Needs
Corfu, Greece – On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the Mayor of North Corfu, George Machimaris, and Deputy Mayor of Tourism, Nikolaos Cheirdaris, presented a detailed memorandum to Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni during a working meeting. The meeting, which also included the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands, Mr. Ioannis Trepeklis, focused on the pressing issues facing Corfu’s tourism sector and its residents.
The memorandum highlights significant infrastructure deficiencies, the urgent need to repair damages caused by recent severe weather events, and a call for equitable state support for Corfu, a prominent national tourist destination. The central goal is to secure substantial government backing to ensure both the quality of life for permanent residents and visitors, and the sustained dynamic of Corfu as an international tourist destination.
Key Issues Raised in the Memorandum:
The Mayor extended a warm welcome to Minister Kefalogianni, acknowledging Corfu as one of Greece’s most historic and powerful tourist destinations, a “flagship” of Greek tourism that has consistently supported the national economy and promoted Greece internationally for decades. However, the Mayor emphasized that the island is currently facing a critical period, having been severely affected by harsh weather conditions in November 2025 and again in February 2026. These events have caused significant damage to essential infrastructure, including the road network, water supply systems, technical works, and tourist areas. The municipality stresses the need for immediate repairs before the start of the tourist season to ensure the safety of residents and visitors and protect the island’s reputation.
The memorandum underscores the municipality’s expectation of the Minister’s and the state’s support to heal these wounds, strengthen infrastructure, and safeguard the island against new challenges. It aims to foster a meaningful dialogue for Corfu’s sustainability and resilience, acting with respect for the Minister’s institutional role and a sense of responsibility towards citizens, local professionals, and tourism workers.
General Overview: Corfu, a long-standing premier tourist destination in Greece, with a strong international brand, attracts millions of visitors annually despite its challenges. However, the increasing number of visitors year after year, and their concentration during specific periods, has begun to cause not only environmental but also social degradation. Infrastructure is at its limits, communities feel marginalized, and workers experience the season as an endurance test rather than an opportunity.
Corfu contributes over 2% to the country’s GDP through tourism revenues. Yet, historically, the Greek state has not returned a proportional share in terms of funding and projects to improve infrastructure to a degree that ensures a dignified life for permanent residents and accommodates increased tourist flows. The municipality argues that if success is measured solely by occupancy rates and arrivals, the long-term attractiveness of the destination itself will be undermined. Sustainable tourism requires a sustainable and resilient destination.
Specific Problems Highlighted:
- Road Network: The provincial, agricultural, and municipal road network is extensive due to the island’s dense population. It is outdated, poorly maintained, and severely damaged, especially after recent storms. The North-South road axis is a priority.
- Water Supply: Depletion of natural springs due to overconsumption, leaky and aged networks due to lack of resources and human personnel, and energy-intensive boreholes and desalination plants where they exist. The dam projects have been pending for over twenty years.
- Sewerage: Non-existent in tourist areas, and where it exists, it is underperforming due to a lack of maintenance funds.
- Waste Management: A huge financial drain on municipalities due to transportation costs (over sixteen million euros annually), depriving citizens of essential daily projects.
Additional Points Requiring Special Attention:
- Lifeguard coverage for popular beaches, an excessive cost for municipalities.
- Allocation of 60% of land revenues to municipalities (the 2024 allocation is still pending).
- Upgrading tourism education through the IEK Tourism School and the operation of a tour guide school.
- Allocation to municipalities (based on the KEDE proposal) of a portion of the climate crisis resilience fee.
- Concerns from tourism entrepreneurs regarding the Council of State’s jurisprudence on out-of-plan construction.
- Funding for a study to map the destination’s carrying capacity and establish a tourism observatory.
- Protection of the northwest Corfu coastline from erosion, which constitutes a huge environmental disaster.
- Acceleration of construction procedures for the Imerolia Marina in Kassiopi and the port of Agios Stefanos Avliotes.
- Protection of the “Erimitis” ecosystem from concreting for real estate purposes rather than tourism development.
- Programs for the promotion of thematic tourism (e.g., hiking, diving, gastronomic).
- Shortage of labor and executive personnel in the tourism sector.
Cultural Infrastructure – Need for Coordinated Upgrades:
Particular concern arises from the image of abandonment and underperformance of emblematic monuments on the island, of international renown, which constitute fundamental elements of its tourist identity and historical heritage. The Achilleion Palace, one of Corfu’s most significant historical landmarks and an internationally recognized point of reference, has remained for a long time in a state that reflects neither its historical value nor visitors’ expectations.
Similarly, the Fortresses of Corfu – the Old and New – as well as the Fortress of Kassiopi, present an image inconsistent with a global destination of monumental character. Insufficient maintenance, the absence of modern visitor reception infrastructures, and their non-utilization with an integrated cultural plan degrade the tourist product. Enhanced maintenance, improved visitor reception infrastructures, and the integration of monuments into a comprehensive cultural promotion plan are imperative to upgrade the visitor experience and strengthen the island’s tourism footprint. Their protection and promotion represent a high-yield investment for Greek tourism.
In conclusion, the memorandum also addresses:
- The necessity of healthcare services on the island.
- Staffing the Hospital with medical and nursing personnel, which handles a huge number of cases during the summer season, as well as health centers.
- Strengthening the North Corfu Municipality and civil protection with personnel and mechanical equipment to deal with natural disasters (forest fires, floods, etc.).
The North Corfu Municipality looks forward to the Minister’s immediate and substantial response to these legitimate requests. A joint effort is the only way to upgrade the tourism product and protect the quality of life of fellow citizens. The municipality remains available for any further cooperation that will lead to tangible results. Corfu deserves the future it is entitled to, and the Minister’s contribution to this remains crucial.
Source: otavoice.gr
