Carnival warms the coffers of local businesses - what regional figures tell Tornos News

• As a stimulating injection into the revenues of commercial and tourist businesses, in the midst of winter, the carnival events that have flooded every corner of our homeland are described. However, at the end of the day, they do not solve the increased operating costs of businesses by themselves, as characteristically emphasized by local community representatives in Tornos News.

50 million euros in revenue go to Patras

Starting with the largest carnival in the country, that of Patras, whose history begins in the previous century, Tornos News spoke with Konstantinos E. Dragotis, Vice President of KEDIP-Patra Carnival, who, after pointing out that this year the Patras Carnival will attract the most people, with the accommodations having high occupancy rates, also focused on the economic impact of the carnival on the Patras economy.

This year's Carnival King at the great celebration of Patras will be "Harlequin"

As Mr. Dragotis said, estimates for this year's Patras Carnival speak of revenues that will exceed 50 million euros, an amount that is not negligible. Some, however, spoke in the past of revenues of over 100 million euros throughout the period of the Carnival events. What is certain is that these are spread over taxis, catering, hotels, entertainment centers, and carnival souvenir sales. This year, the number of carnival participants will exceed 50,000, while together with the visitors to the carnival events, 100,000 people will flood the Achaean Capital.

Closed hotels and seasonal businesses are opening in Rethymno

The first place in carnival spectacles may belong to Patras, but Rethymno also claims a leading role, which in the past, and specifically in 2019, has exceeded 10 million euros in revenue and 100,000 visitors.
This year, however, as Manos Tsakonas, Deputy Mayor for Culture and responsible for the Rethymno Carnival, emphasizes in Tornos News, 12,000 carnivalists and 25 floats will parade through the main streets of Rethymno, with the number of visitors, however, reaching 30,000 in the last four days.

The impact of the carnival on the local economy is significant, since in winter, most tourist businesses are dormant waiting for summer and tourists from abroad.

In any case, Mr. Tsakonas observes, that because of the carnival, hotels, shops, and restaurants are opening in order to respond to the increased number of visitors. One could say that it is also a test before Easter and the new tourist season. Now how much will the total benefit be for the economy of Rethymno, what is certain is that the number will be in six figures. However, the final amount that will enter the coffers at the end of the day...for businesses, everyone's wish is for it to exceed 5 million euros.

Pan-Corfu participation in the Carnival events of Corfu

Leaving the Cretan Sea and passing to the Ionian Sea and the Princess of the Ionian Sea, Corfu, Konstantinos Vousolinos, Deputy Mayor of Culture and Commerce, after correcting us that in Corfu we are not talking about carnival but about the Corfiot Carnival, underlines to Tornos News that this year the mark that Corfu wants to give to the events is the participation of the lyrical element.

"The focus of the events will be music and choirs. These events come from the depths of the past, which is why this year, for the first time, opera evenings are being organized at the historic city hall of Corfu, the first opera theater of Hellenism since 1833, when there was no Greek state," notes Mr. Vousolinos.

The Corfiot Carnival is accompanied by 30 events and 4 large groups that will present Venetian costumes. At this point, Mr. Vousolinos focuses on the universal participation of Corfiots, as all clubs and schools of Corfu participate equally in the events.

Regarding the economic impact on the local economy, the deputy mayor notes that all the city's hotels are open and full, while what is certain is that catering and commercial establishments will reap the temporary benefits of the events.

The country's trade associations support carnival events

Special mention should also be made to the country's trade associations, which support carnival events throughout the country, as emphasized, among others, in Tornos News by Costas Eleftheriou, Associate of the Historical Archive of Commerce and Entrepreneurship of the Institute (INEMY) of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.

Over time, in our country, trade associations are not limited exclusively to promoting the interests of entrepreneurship and supporting the local economy, but at the same time they also fulfill an active role in the social and cultural life of each city, explains Mr. Eleftheriou and adds:

"Carnival events, in addition to being part of the tourist product of several regions, are also an opportunity for local communities to come closer to their traditions and strengthen their cohesion. Commercial associations, therefore, actively participate in the organization of carnival events as driving forces for cultural actions, contribute to their financial support, and sometimes function as connecting links for the cooperation of entrepreneurs, carnival collective,s and various local expressions of public sociability".

In fact, he makes special reference to the Patras carnival, noting the following:

"For example, the active participation of the Patras Commercial and Import Association in the Patras carnival is timeless and particularly important, which also includes the promotion of a special carnival entrepreneurship.

Similar actions are also found in Xanthi and Rethymno. These are initiatives that aim to combine entrepreneurship with culture, while also showing the central position of the associations in local communities."

The costs of getaways to carnival destinations

And because during this period all of Greece is a carnival, travel agents publish indicative prices for last-minute travelers who will want to go on a trip.

For example:

A three-day trip to Kalambaka-Meteora starts at 145 euros,

For those who wish to experience the carnival in Patras, a three-day trip to a 4-star hotel starts at 149 euros.

Larissa and Ioannina stand out with affordable offers for three-day trips to five-star hotels, with prices starting at 159 and 165 euros respectively.

Packages for Xanthi, for a 4-day stay in a five-star hotel, start at 198 euros, while prices for Kymi-Thebes (3 days in a four-star hotel) start at 235 euros.
Packages for Naoussa, for 4 days in a four-star hotel start at 240 euros, Kefalonia offers 5 days in a four-star hotel from 355 euros, Rethymno for 3 days from 139 euros, and packages for Messinia and Tyrnavos-Kozani (3 days) start at 229 and 247 euros respectively.

Tyrnavos Carnival - Bourani, special for ...naughty people

Kastoria and Lefkada are excellent choices, with prices starting at 160 euros for three-day getaways, while Galaxidi is offered for day trips at a cost of 22 euros.

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