EUROZONE-GREECE/ITALY TOURISTS Fewer tourists seen travelling to Greece from Italy

Record ID: 148615

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/ITALY TOURISTS Fewer tourists seen travelling to Greece from Italy
  • Date: 3rd July 2015
  • Summary: BRINDISI, ITALY (JULY 2, 2015) (REUTERS) FERRY IN PORT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING NEAR FERRY TERMINAL MOTORBIKE WITH LABEL READING 'PATRAS' CAR WITH LABEL READING 'PATRAS' VARIOUS OF VEHICLES WAITING ON QUAYSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN TOURIST, THOMAS SPARK, SAYING: "So we're going to Greece for a holiday, even though there's economic trouble. There's a lot of beauti
  • Embargoed: 18th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA33BIQL3XDK2XI8XKLRPFSRBQE
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: There were noticeably fewer people making the trip across the Mediterranean from Italy to Greece on Friday (July 3), despite assurances by Athens that tourists would not be affected by the financial crisis.
    As part of capital controls, the government has closed banks after a dramatic stand-off with international creditors who have been keeping the country solvent.
    Tourists travelling to various Greek islands expressed their solidarity with the Greek people.
    "So we're going to Greece for a holiday, even though there's economic trouble. There's a lot of beautiful things in Greece and so we're just going to go help them out," said American tourist Thomas Spark.
    "As well as going because I like going to Greece - I was there many years ago - I want to give a small contribution, just a small contribution on my part," said Alessandro, an Italian tourist.
    Italian DJ Antonio Laurino was, surprisingly, going for work. He said it would be his fourth year running working the summer in a Corfu night club.
    "I'm going to work, even though that might seem strange, but it's like that - Greece has more opportunities than Italy," Laurino said.
    Tourism is Greece's biggest cash earner. It accounts for a fifth of GDP and employs one in five Greeks.
    Local hoteliers said it was too early to gauge if there had been any effect on their businesses.
    The Greek Tourism Ministry said it did not expect tourists to suffer, saying in a statement that it "does not expect any inconvenience ... either on the islands or in mainland Greece, as there are adequate fuel supplies, products and services".
    Greece is due to hold a snap referendum on Sunday (July 5). The people will vote on whether to accept or reject the terms of an aid-for-reform deal from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
    If they vote 'No', as their government recommends, it may spell the end of Greece's eurozone membership.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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