EUROZONE-GREECE/AIRPORT-TOURISTS Spared capital controls, tourists supportive of Greeks

Record ID: 148914

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/AIRPORT-TOURISTS Spared capital controls, tourists supportive of Greeks
  • Date: 29th June 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS AIRPORT IN ATHENS GREEK AND EU FLAG IN FRONT OF ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT AIRPORT ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF TOURISTS INSIDE AIRPORT VARIOUS OF TOURIST ARRIVALS VARIOUS OF JAPANESE TOURIST AT CASH MACHINE VARIOUS OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE OFFICE TOURIST FROM NORWAY, JAN JOHANSSEN, STANDING BY HIS LUGGAGE (SOUNDBITE) (En
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2LS2BJM6JY48XRSARTXW6H7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Many cash machines were empty in Greece on Monday morning (June 29) after the government closed the banks and imposed capital controls to avoid a massive outflow of cash.
    This was also the case at the airport where tourists arrived in a country plunging into an ever deeper crisis.
    Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras surprised creditors by calling a referendum on the austerity cuts in the aid package proposed by creditors and announced capital controls on Sunday night to prevent banks from collapsing.
    Daily withdrawals at cash machines have been restricted to 60 euros for Greeks.
    Foreigners, however, will be able to take out as much as their own banks at home allow.
    Norwegian tourist Jan Johanssen said he expected to pay for most things by card and was unconcerned.
    "We are going to be here for one month and I think in this period things are going to find a way out. But we have with us cash, but of course not enough, but we are hoping that the banks are going to be, maybe next week, have some cash. We have cards and the hotels are going to pay by credit cards, I think it's going to be ok. I am not worried," said Johanssen.
    Danish visitor K. Pedersen said it was a dark day for Greece, but not for tourists.
    "I knew it could happen and I am not scared. I think it's a pity for the Greek people, they have serious problems," he said.
    Many visitors either book all inclusive holiday packages or pre-pay their hotels.
    With so many transactions being made with debit cards rather than cash, there was little sense of panic.
    "We knew about the situation, it's a lot in the news in Finland. So we took some more cash with us and we hope that it's stable and I think that in long term, I hope that Greek people will be ok, and survive somehow out of this crisis," said Mari Holopainen from Finland.
    "Yes of course I am worried and also for the services and so on but so far we have been travelling a week in Greece and everybody is really friendly and helpful," said her friend, Hanna Timonen, also from Finland.
    Greeks will be asked to accept or reject a painful set of austerity measures to guarantee the bailout that would avert bankruptcy. Many believe it is a vote for or against membership of the EU.
    "It's not easy. Let's hope that you can stay in the eurozone. We all want that . But, yes, it's a political game in a way and it's not so nice and it's terrible for the people in Greek, my friends, for everybody. But finally, also for the whole of Europe. If you have to go out, that's not good," said Joke Gruneweg from the Netherlands.
    While tourists seemed confident they'd be ok, Greek businesses were likely to suffer as a result of the cash flow restrictions and the fact that payments and transfers to accounts outside Greece is now prohibited.
    The capital controls were expected to last for six days although ministers said this was subject to change.
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