A Greek Taverna Restaurant in Greece. Source: Big Stock Photo
June 13, 2010
Greek tourism taking a beating: New York Times
This report by Niki Kitsantonis at the New York Times describes a tourist industry struggling to contract without crashing as visitor numbers drop by 20% and competition between hotels and restaurants, already using reduced rates to shore up faltering numbers, is causing many to simply remain closed rather than weather the costs of being open in such a tough market.
"...pristine beaches are sparsely populated, the bars are all but empty and Vassilis Minaidis’s gleaming new five-star hotel is distressingly quiet.
“It’s a difficult time; we really need customers,” said Mr. Minaidis, 74, sitting on the hotel’s terrace, where a few couples picked at Greek salads and appetizers overlooking the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. These are new arrivals, attracted by last-minute deals, said Mr. Minaidis, who has cut his prices by 20 percent to fill the 350 rooms in his two hotels. Still, his bookings are down by the same rate. “It’s the battle of Greece,” he said, referring to the country’s debt crisis.
...These are unusual scenes in Rhodes, an island of 117,000 residents that topped a list of favorite European vacation destinations compiled by TripAdvisor, the online travel guide, in 2008. But, after a weak 2009, it is one of countless Greek destinations to see a sharp decline. The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said bookings were down this year by an average of 30 percent nationwide, and 20 percent in Rhodes."
Greece's Golden Visa program
