Best In Travel Mykonos 2018 | Page 53

Let ’ s talk about the latest news , the electrical interconnection with the mainland National Electricity Transmission System . It is a historic project that was a longstanding demand of the Mykonians . Henceforth , we will have better quality , more economical and , of course , more eco-friendly electricity , as local diesel power plants in the Cyclades will stop operating . Personally , I am particularly glad that the present Municipal Authority has fought with time and bureaucracy in order for the project to be delivered on time . What do you answer to those who are concerned about Μykonos ’ rapid growth ? The key is to decide what we really want in this country ! The problem is not growth but the fact that the growth rates of the island are much higher than those of the State . That ’ s exactly why both key issues facing Mykonos - infrastructure and understaffing of public services - are the ultimate responsibility of the Government . At some point , however , Mykonos and State will have to meet ... This year , you have welcomed the 1st Mykonos Art- Festival , while the MykonosRun 2018 is expected .
Can these events attract a different audience than we have known so far ? Our main goal since the first day we took over the fortunes of the island has been to extend the tourist season . As part of our integrated strategy , we have put particular emphasis on culture and sport , investing systematically in both infrastructures ( e . g . 1st Indoor Gym of Mykonos , Works in Mykonos and Delos Museums etc .) and the implementation of major events ( Aegean Games , Mykonos Run , Mykonos Art Festival etc ). Events that attract thousands of entries and project a new image of our island other than the one that is world-famous for , mainly summer holidays and wild entertainment . Has the new Qatar-Mykonos connection brought the desired results ? Not only has it brought the desired results , but it has done better than the Qatarians predicted ! Doha Airport is a transit tourist center ! In other words , we connected Mykonos directly with the huge tourist market of East and Australia ! We can safely assume that the two big bets you ’ ve won are the financial support ( as bonus ) of civil servants working on the island and the installation of the first automatic access mechanisms for the disabled ? As you know both the annual financial support of € 350,000 and the automatic access mechanisms for people with disabilities at beaches , are 100 % our own initiative , also financed 100 % by us , that is with money from the Mykonians . And in this case we are covering a huge gap left by the State in order to ensure the proper functioning of our island , especially during the summer months , when the population of the island grows over ten times bigger ! Your vision ? Our vision of Mykonos by 2030 is based on the extension of the tourist season , the cultural upgrading of the island , the implementation of infrastructure projects , the everyday life and the social cohesion of our local society . A common component of the above is the consolidation of the international brand Mykonos as one of the world ’ s leading brands and a prerequisite for its realization , a thorough tidying up of the finances of the Municipality of Mykonos , which we have achieved after 3 years of hard work and good administration .
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