Crete wildfires impact tourism and Preveli forest

In early August, wildfires that swept southern Crete were largely contained, leaving only a single active blaze near the Preveli pine forest. Travel operators assured that the island’s north coast remained safe for visitors and that scheduled departures would continue without interruption.

A week later, tourism businesses in the affected municipalities shifted focus to recovery. Hotels, restaurants and other services stayed open, and officials highlighted the region’s beaches, gorges and cultural sites to attract guests. While some popular spots had been damaged, the iconic Preveli palm forest was mostly unharmed, and authorities expressed confidence that the tourism season could continue through September and into autumn.

By late August, new assessments revealed that the Preveli palm forest suffered its most significant destruction since 2010. The fire primarily impacted palms at the river mouth, sparking concerns for the unique ecosystem. However, botanist Eleftheria Antaloudaki of the Natural History Museum of Crete noted that the palms are resilient; if the central core remains unburned, the plants can regrow. Experts suggest that because some parts of the forest deeper in the canyon remained untouched, full restoration could potentially be achieved within two to three years.

To support long-term preservation, the Crete Natural History Museum has partnered with institutions in the Canary Islands through a European program. This collaboration aims to protect the Theophrastus palm, a species unique to Crete and the Canary Islands, following the damage to the river mouth section of the forest.