Michael Gove plans to relax with Rioja on vacation on a Greek island affected by a forest fire

Wildfires have raged through the region in recent days, with up to 10,000 British holidaymakers believed to be caught in the chaos on the popular Greek island of Rhodes

Image: Sky News)

Michael Gove is planning a summer vacation on a Greek island hit by wildfires, as he said travel advice remains that the area is safe for tourists.

The Tory minister said he was flying to Euboea - an island off the east coast of Athens - in "just over a week". Wildfires have raged through the region in recent days, with up to 10,000 British holidaymakers believed to be caught in the chaos on the popular Greek island of Rhodes.

Firefighters have been battling fires in Corfu and southern Euboea in recent days, with some areas being evacuated. Holiday operators continue to cancel flights and holidays, meaning thousands of people are at risk of having their getaway plans cancelled.

Residents try to put out a fire, near the seaside resort of Lindos, on the island of Rhodes (

Picture:

PA)

But Mr Gove insisted he was not worried about his summer getaway. He told Sky News: "I have to go on holiday, God willing, to Greece in just over a week, not to Rhodes but to another island and I can't wait to get there."

When asked if he was worried, Mr Gove replied: "Naturally I want to make sure that as a government we do everything we can to support Greece and even our tourists there. But no, I'm not."

The upgrade secretary said he plans to spend his time “swimming, reading, cooking” as well as drinking “Retsina then Rioja” wine. He said it was "absolutely right" that people could still go on holiday to Greece and said the Foreign Office's advice remained that it was safe to travel to the region.

Factbox on forest fires in Europe

Where are the wildfires?

Daily maps show that the risk of dangerous wildfires is greatest on the southern islands, including Rhodes and Crete. However, wildfires are a threat across the country, with the island of Corfu suffering multiple blazes forcing the evacuation of around 2,500 people on Monday.