Greece’s new Tourism Minister, Olga Kefalogianni, has told the Italian newspaper L’Espresso that even during an economic crisis that has put images of protests, strikes and riots on front pages and websites around the world, that Greece is still an ideal vacation, although this year’s summer season has suffered.
“Even during demonstrations in downtown Athens, people, both locals and visitors, being on islands as well as in the entire tourism zone of Athens were completely safe. However, unsafety followed the two election periods (between May 6 and June 17) and froze bookings. Afterwards, there was some increase in the reservation rates, but all this had already had a negative impact on Greece,” she added.
The Italian editor stressed that his fellow countrymen keep visiting Greek islands and said he agreed with her that Greece offers affordable vacation packages, and made clear that everyone could have ideal holidays in Greece depending on their budget.
As for the financial crisis, the Rome-based newspaper predicted that “should the Troika and Greek government not be able to make a deal having the least negative effect on the country, rage and riot will follow once again and thus, it (Greece) will be forced to leave the Eurozone, a development that would please German conservative politicians expressing such an opinion in public.” Ironically, Kefalogianni opened the article by stating that, “It might be pure luck but you do not listen to people speaking German; neither on Rhodes’ castle, near Santorini volcano or even on Sifnos.”
(Source: ampe)
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