This response is private and in no way represents the views of fonien.gr.
Posting a video that he has recorded himself, Mr. Fotis Kokotos, a member of the family who own the Elounda S.A. Hotels and Resorts – Elounda Mare Hotel , Porto Elounda Mare Hotel and Elounda Peninsula – poses the question: “Why do the guests in the 5* hotels in Elounda not go out?”
In his commentary on the situation outside – on the front doorstep of the hotels – he highlights the beautiful, natural environment and the climate and another excellent tourist unit, in contrast to the overhead telephone and electric cables, the unfinished buildings, the rubbish – dumped anywhere except in the rubbish skip – the poor condition of the surface of the approach road down to the hotels and the lack of lighting. I understand, from other posts that Mr. Kokotos regularly makes, that he wants to pass on his belief that we are all to blame, but not in any way, the hotels themselves.
I would like to suggest that it is not quite that simple and that ultimately, we all have a responsibility to achieve the future with the kind of tourism we want to see in our area. An area which should be seen as a trademark (like the south of France), and which will attract high quality customers, who have money to spend in resort and will go out of their way to mix with the locals and contribute to the wider economy.
I would also add, that the lack of pavements ( that Mr. Kokotos overlooked to mention), has always been a huge complaint of customers in the area, whether staying in the 5* hotels or in any other kind of accommodation in the area – at least the lack of lighting would make their walk safer if it was on a pavement and not the narrow road itself!
I commented on his post with the following initial response:
“Can I ask what contribution the same luxury hotels have made to help with improving the infrastructure at their front doors – we all know that you all pay proportionately high council taxes, but with a small amount from your profits each season, couldn’t you all also invest in the local area? The general negative impression of our 5* visitors is most definitely a reflection on your hotels as well as Elounda, Lasithi and Crete………have you seen the example of the Grande Bretagne, with the lighting in Syntagma Square?
If we expect everything from the State, we will always be disappointed and even more so in this time of crisis………tax evasion is at an all time high amongst those “luckiest” enough to be in a position to hide income. ……”
Having now had a little more time to think about the subject, I would like to add a few more points to my argument:
Does Mr. Kokotos really believe that the issues he highlights are the REAL reasons why guests are not keen to leave their hotels?
Could it not be the lack of local shuttle buses, the expensive car rental and taxi fares, that many refuse to pay as they see them as excessive, in comparison to other places they have visited?
Could it be because they really are very nervous, seeing how we drive here, to even consider renting a car or bike?
Could it be because they feel they have already paid huge amounts of money for the facilities in the hotels and so (in a similar way with all inclusive guests), think well why not make the most of what’s available within the four walls of the hotel?
Could it be that they really would like a pavement to walk along, to go for a coffee or a drink in the village after dinner, (or at any time of the day for that matter) but can see quite clearly that the Hotels have built their boundary walls as far out as is humanly possible into the road, which as a result means that not only is there no room for a pavement (not even only on ONE side), but there is actually no room for two cars to pass in many places, never mind coaches and delivery trucks!!
Is it possible, that these guests just feel really happy to come to Elounda for their holidays, for the privacy and security they get within the hotels, they never intended anyway to visit beyond?
I could go on, but won’t….
I also want to ask though, what those hotels have given back to the community – how much have they individually and collectively invested in the area, (don’t say jobs please, we all know that and it is a natural consequence), financially, practically, on a social basis – to show their guests that the hotels are not solely interested in getting them into the hotels and above and beyond that, have no “connection” with the outside world, with the local communities, with the people who make up this resort which they have chosen for their holiday?
Only recently, an example of the need for private initiative for the benefit of the “WHOLE”, came to light in Athens. The company that owns the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Syntagma Square proposed and will now, be paying for the replacement and upgrading of the lighting in the Square. This investment by the hotels owners will benefit the Hotel directly, as the square ii is front garden, but indirectly, it will make the square more pleasing for those that use it at nighttime, both visitors and locals, and most importantly, will improve the impression for tourists of Greece in general – despite being in crisis, they will see that investments are being made with private initiatives, (the hotel should avertse their kind donation, as visitors respect these efforts), to maintain the tourist product – a crucial factor in the economy and for the future for all of us.
In reply to Mr. Kokotos’ video, I would say that perhaps he needs to get out of the hotel a little more and see what others are doing for the benefit of the resorts their hotels are in.
A resort name is not enough on it’s own, a luxury hotel is not enough on it’s own – we need to all contribute if we are all going to see the benefits and succeed in our different ways and in our different role.
Sandra Simpikin-Kapetanaki