The Municipality of Rhodes’ Repeaters Awards are offered to repeated visitors to the island who keep coming back. The awards were given in the framework of a program by the municipality’s Tourism department that believes these people are considered Goodwill Ambassadors for Greece. After all, their insistence in coming back – despite the unfavorable image of Greece over recent years – contributes to showing the world that Rhodes is a safe and beautiful place.

Finnish Tapani Rimpioja (pictured above), who has visited Rhodes 105 times, was just one of the people who were awarded a prize by Rhodian Mayor Stathis Kousournas during a special ceremony. Another Finnish winner was Tea Maria Byholm, an English and Swedish teacher, who had first come to Rhodes with her parents in 1965 and has returned to the island 50 times. Her husband, Tero Niini, also shares her love of the island and also received an award for the 12 times he has returned.