For Agios Efstratios and its closest large neighbor, Lemnos, the timing of the crisis is particularly cruel. They were seen as remote for years partly because you could only reach the islands by slow and unreliable ferries. In 2015, the government had finally given the contract to a new, efficient company and this has brought many new visitors to explore the islands’ charms. But, then, the bank controls hit. “This season started as the best season in 30 years and, in one week, it became the worst,” said Atzamis Konstantinos, a travel agent in Lemnos.
What improvement made the islands more popular for tourists?
Efficient transportation to the islands Ferry cruises around the islands The opening of Atzamis Konstantinos’ travel agency in Lemnos A new marketing campaign by the Greek tourism ministry