The Ministry of Culture has approved the environmental and architectural studies for a major tourism investment that is now cleared for implementation on Corfu.

The investment concerns the creation by KLC III Hellas SA of a tourism accommodation complex covering 205,000 square meters at Aghios Stefanos near Benitses.

The provisional plan approved by the ministries of Environment and Economy provides for a composite tourism complex with a total capacity of 893 beds. This will include a five-star hotel with a capacity of 539 beds, including bungalows of 156 beds, 76 fully furnished holiday homes with a capacity of 354 beds, and a spa center.

The plan further includes the creation of restaurants, swimming pools, bars, shops, sports facilities, an internal road network, infrastructure networks, parking spaces, sewage processing installations etc.

The hotel unit will be based on an existing hotel that will be rebuilt: The luxurious unit of San Stefano has been closed for years and will now be transformed into the new hotel. According to the provisional budget, the total investment is expected to exceed 50 million euros.

The Ministry of Culture has set certain terms for its approval, such as the creation of a 30-meter zone free of any buildings close to a Venetian complex, architecture in keeping with that of the island, and the containment of swimming pools to one per building. The terms mean that the company will have to redraft its plans and submit them to the Central Archaeological Council for approval.