World Report

A favourite with British tourists, Corfu offers its visitors much more than sun, sand and sea

The cafes and bars of the arcaded terrace of the Liston are a great place to watch the world go by.

ne of the most beautiful Greek islands, Corfu is known as the emerald island because of its lush green landscape of pine-covered hills and olive groves. Lying between the heel of Italy and the western coasts of Greece and Albania, the island has a 135-mile coastline that is dotted with sand and pebble beaches and tiny fishing villages.

With its mild and sunny Mediterranean climate, Corfu is one of Greece’s most popular attractions for foreign tourists. Many of its visitors are primarily seeking sun and the beach, but for those who want more the island has a lot to offer.

The calm waters of the Ionian Sea offer excellent opportunities for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and fishing, while the interior has some of the prettiest countryside of all the Greek islands to explore. For sightseers, there are ancient monuments to visit, such as the Temple of Artemis, and natural wonders including the spectacular scenery of Mount Pantokrator and the Bay of Paleokastritsa.

At night the resorts come alive with plenty of discos, bars, snack bars and tavernas to choose from, while the island’s capital, Corfu Town (see below), offers a variety of cultural and artistic entertainment.

A high proportion of the visitors who flock to Corfu, many on package tours, are British. In fact, the British like the island so much that around 5,000 expats live there permanently.

Nikos Georgiadis
MP for Corfu

“Corfu differs from the traditional Greek islands in that it is uniquely Mediterranean”

“Corfu is an ideal tourism destination,” says Nikos Georgiadis (INTERVIEW), Corfu’s MP in the Greek Parliament. “It is an extremely beautiful island with extraordinary culture, wonderful architecture and magnificent olive groves. It differs from the traditional Greek islands in that it is uniquely Mediterranean.

“Its competitive advantage is the richness of its diversity, from its Tuscan-influenced cuisine to its European culture and musicality, with a touch of Ottoman flavour,” comments Mr Georgiadis, himself a talented musician and singer. He adds, “the milder temperatures enable one to enjoy the beautiful environment, which provides for a variety of activities throughout the seasons.”

Accommodation ranges from cheap and cheerful to luxury hotels, villas and apartments. However, the island needs further development of its infrastructure to fully exploit its potential as a holiday destination. “There is a lot of potential and investors who take advantage of this could do very well,” declares Mr Georgiadis.

Yannis Trepeklis (INTERVIEW), Mayor of Corfu, cites the island’s potential as a golfing destination as an example. “At present, we have only one golf course but we could build two more, especially taking into account that our weather is good for golf and we are accessible from Europe. Many English people go to Pafos in Cyprus for the weekend to play golf, but Corfu is closer.”

Yannis Trepeklis
Mayor of Corfu
“Tourists look at price and distance. They should also look at the quality and richness that Corfu has to offer”

Consideration is being given to providing new sporting facilities. “We could exploit the nearby island of Vidos to build a unique sports club where football teams can train before big events,” says Mr Trepeklis. “When the weather conditions are tough in northern Europe, teams could train here in a beautiful natural environment.”

As in other parts of Greece, the authorities are keen to attract visitors outside the traditional holiday period. Corfu can cater for a large number of visitors throughout the year and has the advantage of remaining warm. It has a calm sea when winter storms make the Aegean Sea rough and the Cycladic Isles are virtually closed.

The Mayor stresses that when it comes to developing tourism the emphasis should be on quality. “In the past we have always looked for the quick money, the quick investment that will make money fast, and we have not made good plans and provided the necessary facilities to bring quality tourism and make the tourism period last longer. This is the kind of tourism we must invest in.”

While the UK remains the main source of tourists, the drive to attract more people to the island is being extended to other parts of Europe. “There is a lot of interest from Italy, France and Spain,” notes Mr Trepeklis.

“Tourists today look at the price and the distance. They should also look at the quality and the richness of our island, its history and its cultural heritage, and we must advertise these qualities. We must tell them that Corfu is a great destination.”

A significant step towards promoting the island is the recent establishment of the Tourism Organisation of Corfu. “We are trying to position ourselves in the international market, instead of leaving everything to chance,” says the Mayor.