Greece was dealt another economic blow today due to the prospect of lost tourism as many tourists are worried about travelling to the country because of the recent threats from a terror organisation, the urban guerrilla group Sect of Revolutionaries sent out a declaration last week stating: ‘Tourists should learn that Greece is no longer a safe haven of capitalism’.
However the head of one of the UK’s leading holiday operators to Greece has said tourists shouldn’t be dissuaded from visiting the country even though the group which has already claimed the life of journalist Sokratis Giolias has also said they: ‘intend to turn [Greece] into a war zone of revolutionary activity with arson, sabotage, violent demonstrations, bombings and assassinations, and not a country that is a destination for holidays and pleasure’.
Looking at the recent threats, Noel Josephides, Managing director of Sunvil Holidays, said that although the company has been discounting Greek holidays in a bid to sell more late deals and that many of the major operators have been ‘switching a lot of capacity from Greece to Egypt and Turkey which are a lot more fashionable this year.’ Also that: ‘people who know and love Greece are still going to go this year.’
However Mr Josephides conceded the country’s unsettled political situation could make those who have yet to decide where to spend their summer holidays think twice before travelling to the popular Greek islands. But with any situation there is an upside ‘There will be fewer people going to Greece over the summer, that means the beaches and resorts will be quieter, (and) prices about 10 per cent lower.’
In a public statement the Greek government is adamant that tourists will be safe stating: ‘In relation to the recent events linked to the terrorist group Sect of Revolutionaries, there is absolutely no danger to tourists or the Greek public’.
