Greece tourism hit by euro crisis

[FarCenter]

Europeans are avoiding vacations to Greece this summer fearing instability sparked by the debt crisis, industry sources say, inflicting a hard blow to the country's already devastated economy.

"From the aftermath of the elections on May 6, we have experienced a 50 percent drop in bookings," said George Drakopoulos, director general of the association of Greek tourism enterprises (SETE).

Though tourism from Germany this year is back on the rise, overall booking numbers are still plummeting ahead of the busy summer season, Drakopoulos said.

"Hotels make appealing offers, but that is not the issue here. For many of the tourists visiting Greece, it is a matter of security on top of value for money."

http://www.france24.com/en/20120520-greece-tourism-hit-euro-crisis

[AnnieBW]

1. I'm seeing it in cruise ads, too

I keep getting ads for inexpensive Greek island cruises. As much as I would love to see Greece - and praying to Athena at the Parthenon is on my "bucket list" - I just don't think that going to Greece is a good idea right now.