THE tone of the UK government’s advice to people planning holidays in #Greece has been criticized by the Responsible Travel (RT) website, which has published alternative travel advice encouraging tourists to visit the country.
Responsible Travel says that now is the time to show solidarity with Greece, a country in which tourism accounts for 18% of gross domestic product and in which 19% of the labour force is involved directly or indirectly in the industry. RT objects to the tone of the government advice, which focuses solely on the potential problems for holiday-makers without any balancing argument that Greece needs the support of UK tourists.
Managing director of Responsible Travel, Justin Francis says: ‘One of the best things we can do to support Greek people is to continue to travel to the country, but the tone of the messaging and advice from the UK government, and subsequently the mass media, completely contradicts this.
‘The government of course has a duty to advise its citizens, but the information is given out-of-context, deterring travellers with little thought given to the negative impact on the Greek tourism industry. Although we are not being told explicitly to not visit, the messages being sent to the UK public is clear – a trip to Greece will be more trouble than it’s worth.
‘Tourists couldn’t be more welcome than they are now – the Greek people need them to keep travelling – and it’s this which underpins our travel advice, alongside the practical tips and considerations as put forward by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and our members on the ground in Greece.”
Key points from Responsible Travel’s alternative advice to tourists include:
• Many of the images in circulation of empty supermarket shelves and queues for banks have been taken out of context, and those that are true are concentrated largely in Athens, well away from the more popular tourist areas.
• Credit and debit cards are likely to work, but travellers are encouraged to carry enough cash on them. Not only for their own sake – ATM restrictions are in place for those with Greek bank cards, so paying cash for goods and services is a useful way to give Greek people more ready access to cash.
• It is peak season, and the only time of year that most businesses are able to really make any income. A sudden drop in visitors could be disastrous for many small Greek businesses – and the families that depend on these.
• Staying in locally-owned accommodations, eating in local restaurants, and shopping in local markets means tourists’ money reaches those who need it most. And this is even easier in Greece, with just six percent of its hotels belonging to international brands – less than half the EU average.
• You’re unlikely to get caught up in any protests or demonstrations unless you make a point of hanging around in Syntagma Square in Athens.
The advice can be read in full at:
www.responsibletravel.com/copy/why-you-should-go-to-greece-now
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