EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-TOURISM Influx of migrants hurts tourism in Greek island of Kos

Record ID: 144177

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-TOURISM Influx of migrants hurts tourism in Greek island of Kos
  • Date: 13th August 2015
  • Summary: KOS, GREECE (AUGUST 13, 2015) (REUTERS) CYCLISTS PASSING ON ROAD WHERE MIGRANTS ARE CAMPING OUT VARIOUS OF TOURIST MINI-TRAIN
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVATIA7IPQSNVGYXPTZ507HKHQD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: In Greece, the influx of migrants risks hurting a tourist season that has been holding up well, despite the country's economic crisis.
    On the island of Kos, officials estimate there are 7,000 migrants out of a population, excluding tourists, of around 30,000.
    Many are camping out on roads and in tents by the beach as they await immigration papers to continue their travels.
    French tourist Romain who said he had come to Kos before, said it felt different this time.
    "It feels a bit strange because you go to the same place, this is not the first time I've come to Kos but there is some places where you can see refugees all around and it... I mean, you feel pity because you cannot really help them and at the same time you want to enjoy your holiday, so it's like kind of contradictory feeling. So I feel disturbed and not very comfortable for this," he said.
    Local businesses which usually thrive during tourist season in the summer are suffering -- many visitors have cancelled reservations over the past few days after hearing about tensions at a sport's stadium which has become a makeshift reception centre for migrants and seeing pictures of camps around historical attractions.
    "The tourists are not coming, they are going out of the hotels, coming in the city. The business is no good, I need one month before finish the season, August is the best month for the summer and now it's catastrophic," said Yannis, a waiter at a local Greek restaurant.
    Meanwhile the migrants who are camping out in tents with no food, little water and without proper sanitation, say it is difficult for them to watch tourists go about their holidays on the islands.
    "Why we're living like this? Why? What's the difference between me and them? No difference, we all are human beings, but because we came from bad situation that's why we're feeling just like that. And we don't want anything from here except that paper, just to get out from this island because it's like sucking. It's sucking, I'm sorry to say that," said a migrant from Syria, Imad.
    Cash-starved Greece, mired in its worst economic crisis in decades, has found itself in the spotlight in recent months as Europe grapples with a stream of refugees fleeing war and poverty. Tens of thousands have crossed into Greece from Turkey along its long island coastline.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register