Ionian Islands

The government is preparing to announce the creation of two new marine parks - in the Ionian and Aegean seas - ahead of the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Greece (April 15-17). 

Island municipalities issued the largest number of new building permits in 2023, with the top five comprising Lefkada and Zakynthos in the Ionian, Paros and Naxos in the Cyclades, and the Dodecanese island of Rhodes, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece (ELSTAT). 

The Ionian island of Ithaca is home to the mythical hero Odysseus

A 4.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Antikythera early Thursday morning, a small island on the edge of the Aegean Sea, lying between Crete and the Peloponnese. No damages were reported.

The tremor was recorded at 4.20 a.m., 298 km south-southwest of Athens.

Greece has the largest fleet of recreational boats available for hire in the region, according to a survey by Riginos, one of the country's leading yachting companies.

The number of vessels available for leasing in this country reached 2,580 in 2023, of which 740 are catamaran-type boats, whose popularity is showing significant growth.

Marking three years since the ratification by Parliament of the extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles in the Ionian Sea, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said on Saturday that the country has grown in size, guided by the application of international law and the international law of the sea. 

The direct contribution of tourism to Greece's GDP is estimated to be close to 24 billion euros, or 11.5% in 2022, with five regions representing almost 90% of the country's receipts, three of which are purely tourist regions.

More than 250 individuals were arrested across Greece on Wednesday by the police. 

According to the police, officers took into account local operational plans and focused on areas with increased crime in an effort to improve public safety. 

From the 21,609 people that were checked, 733 individuals were brought into police stations and 282 people were arrested. 

Giorgos Sklavos uses a slotted spoon to collect sea salt from depressions in the rocks on the coast of Kythira, on Saturday. Salt harvesters on the island, which lies off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese, have seen business pick up in recent years as Kythira's premium salt has come back in vogue.

A wildfire broke out among low vegetation in the eastern coast of the Ionian island of Zakynthos on Friday night and is threatening homes, state-run broadcaster ERT reported.

The flames were in the area of Tsilivi, according to the Fire Brigade.

The Ionian Islands Region's civil protection have requested an evacuation order.