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Hard times for Greek tourism

The Greek has been a nightmare for tourism professionals. After the strike of the marine boats blocking the port of Piraeus, the air traffic controllers causing the cancellation or delay of many departures and returns from holiday, truck drivers have taken over. A seven-day strike that threatened paralysis of the country. Facing a shortage of essential goods, the government had to call the army to supply hospitals, ports and airports. By this evening, most service stations should be supplied. Meanwhile, queues still in the vicinity of petrol pumps."Some take the opportunity to display the price of a liter of gasoline at 1.82 euros!" Find Nicolas and Cyril, two French tourists returning from the Peloponnese.

The road sector liberalization and the opening of the profession to competition is the stumbling block between the government and unions of truck drivers. A measure that they deem unfair but that is imposed by the austerity of the EU and the IMF in exchange for a loan of 110 billion euros.

The road back to work

If the road has finally decided Sunday night to resume work for tourism professionals, the damage is done. "With all these strikes, we lose about 100,000 tourists a day, regrets Spiros Guines, vice-president of the Union of tourism professionals. Nothing on the Piraeus area, there are more than 2,500 cancellations in a few days.Tourists are frightened and we're paying the consequences. "

And for good reason, tourism professionals believe that they acknowledge this year down 20% of revenue, or nearly one billion euros in losses compared to 2009. Tourism is the main economic resource of the country. It represents nearly 18% of GDP.

The government knows that after this showdown new social tensions will follow, but it was decided to continue its reforms. "We do not cry victory and remain cautious because we know that change is difficult and tough measures," said Giorgos Petroulakis, Secretary General of Ministry of Communication. The majority of Greek support these reforms, we must carry them out.Regarding the tourists, we are committed to what they have no problem during their stay in Greece. "

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