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As Referendum Looms, Greece’s Tourism Industry Holds Its Breath As Referendum Looms, Greece’s Tourism Industry Holds Its Breath
(about 5 hours later)
ATHENS — Charles and Liz Lee and their three children had come to see the sights in Athens for their vacation. But it may not be the Acropolis they will remember as much as something else unexpectedly exhilarating, something they had never seen before: demonstrators carrying Communist flags. ATHENS — Charles and Liz Lee and their three children had come to see the sights in Athens for their vacation. But it may not be the Acropolis they will remember as much as something else unexpectedly exhilarating, something they had never seen before: demonstrators carrying Communist flags.
“It’s been a little nerve wracking in Athens,” Heather Lee, 18, who was visiting with her family from Birmingham, Mich., said, describing the demonstrations and the sight of Greeks lined up at A.T.M.s. “But looking back, we can also say that we were in Greece at this time in history.”“It’s been a little nerve wracking in Athens,” Heather Lee, 18, who was visiting with her family from Birmingham, Mich., said, describing the demonstrations and the sight of Greeks lined up at A.T.M.s. “But looking back, we can also say that we were in Greece at this time in history.”
For Greece’s all-important tourism industry, however, there is no doubt that this moment of history — a decision over the terms of Greece’s bailout, which will face a referendum on Sunday — could not have arrived at a less auspicious time.For Greece’s all-important tourism industry, however, there is no doubt that this moment of history — a decision over the terms of Greece’s bailout, which will face a referendum on Sunday — could not have arrived at a less auspicious time.
This is the beginning of the high season when, for just a few months, hundreds of thousands of Greeks work almost around the clock trying to make enough money to eat, pay bills and take care of their children during the slower months of the rest of the year.This is the beginning of the high season when, for just a few months, hundreds of thousands of Greeks work almost around the clock trying to make enough money to eat, pay bills and take care of their children during the slower months of the rest of the year.
Few visitors have canceled trips, the tourism authorities say, and many say their visits have gone smoothly. But the travel industry said future bookings have begun to slide, heightening worries that Greece’s financial crisis will undercut its tourism sector, and that a weak tourism sector will further worsen the financial crisis.Few visitors have canceled trips, the tourism authorities say, and many say their visits have gone smoothly. But the travel industry said future bookings have begun to slide, heightening worries that Greece’s financial crisis will undercut its tourism sector, and that a weak tourism sector will further worsen the financial crisis.
About 340,500 Greeks worked in tourism, and more than 17 percent of Greece’s gross domestic product depended on it last year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.About 340,500 Greeks worked in tourism, and more than 17 percent of Greece’s gross domestic product depended on it last year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
All the rules about lining up for daily cash allowances do not apply to tourists. They are using credit cards for most purchases, and have heeded travel agent and government advice to bring cash just in case. The United States Embassy is warning to avoid the constant political demonstrations and even posts a daily list of demonstrations on its website.All the rules about lining up for daily cash allowances do not apply to tourists. They are using credit cards for most purchases, and have heeded travel agent and government advice to bring cash just in case. The United States Embassy is warning to avoid the constant political demonstrations and even posts a daily list of demonstrations on its website.
Yet every night, there are alternating demonstrations in central Athens by the “nai” and “oxi” factions, roughly translating as yes to the demands of European creditors, or no.Yet every night, there are alternating demonstrations in central Athens by the “nai” and “oxi” factions, roughly translating as yes to the demands of European creditors, or no.
Large blue police buses move in to block off the streets and dozens of police officers carrying shields and helmets lounge casually in the background as demonstrators march, chant and leave the streets littered with flags and leaflets. Large blue police buses move in to block off the streets, and dozens of police officers carrying shields and helmets lounge casually in the background as demonstrators march, chant and leave the streets littered with flags and leaflets.
The demonstrations have almost a party atmosphere, as vendors sell roasted corn, sausage and nuts to the demonstrators, who arrive in the company of friends.The demonstrations have almost a party atmosphere, as vendors sell roasted corn, sausage and nuts to the demonstrators, who arrive in the company of friends.
Still, some Greeks working in the tourist industry said they were starting to get nervous. While bigger businesses have prepared for cash shortages by sending money offshore, smaller businesses have not, and their inability to withdraw cash from the bank has begun to hamper their ability to get supplies.Still, some Greeks working in the tourist industry said they were starting to get nervous. While bigger businesses have prepared for cash shortages by sending money offshore, smaller businesses have not, and their inability to withdraw cash from the bank has begun to hamper their ability to get supplies.
Argiro Barbarigou, a restaurant owner in Athens, said she had already seen her domestic supply of olive oil, fish and vegetables diminished, because producers were having trouble paying for the transportation to market. Argiro Barbarigou, a restaurant owner in Athens, said she had already seen her domestic supply of olive oil, fish and vegetables diminished because producers were having trouble paying for the transportation to market.
“I think that from Monday we are going to have a big, big problem,” Ms. Barbarigou said. “We already can’t order many things, because they are not in the market.” “I think that from Monday, we are going to have a big, big problem,” Ms. Barbarigou said. “We already can’t order many things because they are not in the market.”
Even some fishing boats, she said, could not go out to fish because they could not pay for fuel.Even some fishing boats, she said, could not go out to fish because they could not pay for fuel.
Still, Ms. Barbarigou said, the air of civil unrest was upsetting the affluent tourists who are regulars at Papadakis, her restaurant in the Kolonaki neighborhood, the Upper East Side of Athens.Still, Ms. Barbarigou said, the air of civil unrest was upsetting the affluent tourists who are regulars at Papadakis, her restaurant in the Kolonaki neighborhood, the Upper East Side of Athens.
“Many of my clients are from the Grande Bretagne, the Hilton, big hotels, and they are going to leave earlier because they are afraid of what is going to happen on Monday,” she said. “And they are people that come every year. They know Greece very well and they have supported us all these years.” “Many of my clients are from the Grande Bretagne, the Hilton, big hotels, and they are going to leave earlier because they are afraid of what is going to happen on Monday,” she said. “And they are people that come every year. They know Greece very well, and they have supported us all these years.”
Ms. Barbarigou said that between her two restaurants, Papadakis and Homey, in the less affluent Halandri neighborhood, she has 50 employees. They have agreed to split whatever money the restaurants bring in and continue working for less than usual, if necessary, she said.Ms. Barbarigou said that between her two restaurants, Papadakis and Homey, in the less affluent Halandri neighborhood, she has 50 employees. They have agreed to split whatever money the restaurants bring in and continue working for less than usual, if necessary, she said.
“My priority is to pay them,” she said, “but they said, ‘we will stand by you whether you pay us or you don’t.’” “My priority is to pay them,” she said, “but they said, ‘We will stand by you whether you pay us or you don’t.’ ”
As for the Lee family, the sense of uncertainty felt in Athens was offset by a dose of Greek hospitality, like when a waiter at the open-air Thanasis souvlakia restaurant gently advised Liz Lee to switch her shoulder bag from back to front.As for the Lee family, the sense of uncertainty felt in Athens was offset by a dose of Greek hospitality, like when a waiter at the open-air Thanasis souvlakia restaurant gently advised Liz Lee to switch her shoulder bag from back to front.
“It’s a camera,” Ms. Lee told the waiter.“It’s a camera,” Ms. Lee told the waiter.
“It’s money,” the waiter, Evangelos Kolilas, replied.“It’s money,” the waiter, Evangelos Kolilas, replied.
Mr. Lee was so touched by the waiter’s concern in the Monastiraki open-air flea market district that he insisted on taking his family back for dinner on Thursday, when Mr. Kolilas gave them a lecture on Greek economics, complete with scribbled arithmetic on the paper tablecloth, and then treated the adults to ouzo. Charles Lee was so touched by the waiter’s concern in the Monastiraki open-air flea market district that he insisted on taking his family back for dinner on Thursday, when Mr. Kolilas gave them a lecture on Greek economics, complete with scribbled arithmetic on the paper tablecloth, and then treated the adults to ouzo.
After the Lees had gone, leaving a generous tip, he turned to his compatriots at another table and said, “You see? The Americans are the best. They respect you.”After the Lees had gone, leaving a generous tip, he turned to his compatriots at another table and said, “You see? The Americans are the best. They respect you.”
The Lees spent their first few days on the island of Santorini, where they were able to use credit cards for everything except gas, where the gas station wanted cash and declined dollars. But they said they had felt safe throughout their trip and had no problems accessing their foreign accounts. The Lees spent their first few days on the volcanic island of Santorini, where they were able to use credit cards for everything except gas, where the gas station wanted cash and declined dollars. But they said they had felt safe throughout their trip and had no problems accessing their foreign accounts.
The Ministry for Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism in Greece is assuring tourists that there is nothing to fear and that they will have access to their credit cards and cash while enjoying azure seas and sandy beaches.The Ministry for Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism in Greece is assuring tourists that there is nothing to fear and that they will have access to their credit cards and cash while enjoying azure seas and sandy beaches.
Tourists “can continue to enjoy their holiday in Greece with absolutely no problem,” Elena Kountoura, the alternate minister of tourism, said in a statement issued Monday, the day the banks closed.Tourists “can continue to enjoy their holiday in Greece with absolutely no problem,” Elena Kountoura, the alternate minister of tourism, said in a statement issued Monday, the day the banks closed.
Andreas Andreadis, president of Sete, the Greek Tourism Confederation, said Friday that cancellations had been minimal, but that he worried about the 20 percent or so of tourists who would decide their destinations at the last minute.Andreas Andreadis, president of Sete, the Greek Tourism Confederation, said Friday that cancellations had been minimal, but that he worried about the 20 percent or so of tourists who would decide their destinations at the last minute.
“At the moment, we have 700,000 to 800,000 foreign visitors staying in Greece, and things are normal for them,” Dr. Andreadis said. “We have our hotline open, we get the flow of information from tourist businesses daily. We don’t see serious issues at all.”“At the moment, we have 700,000 to 800,000 foreign visitors staying in Greece, and things are normal for them,” Dr. Andreadis said. “We have our hotline open, we get the flow of information from tourist businesses daily. We don’t see serious issues at all.”
Since capital controls were imposed on Monday, he said, new bookings have dropped by 20 percent to 30 percent, reflecting, he thought, the uncertainty surrounding Sunday’s referendum, which is widely being perceived as a vote that may determine the fate of the current government and whether Greece keeps the euro.Since capital controls were imposed on Monday, he said, new bookings have dropped by 20 percent to 30 percent, reflecting, he thought, the uncertainty surrounding Sunday’s referendum, which is widely being perceived as a vote that may determine the fate of the current government and whether Greece keeps the euro.
“To tell you the truth, we haven’t had any inconvenience whatsoever thus far,” said Kera Armstrong, who arrived on the volcanic island of Santorini from her home in Philadelphia a few days ago. “To tell you the truth, we haven’t had any inconvenience whatsoever thus far,” said Kera Armstrong, who arrived on Santorini from her home in Philadelphia a few days ago.
“Where we’ve been, everybody’s accepted credit cards,” Ms. Armstrong said on Friday. “If we hadn’t been tracking the news before we left, and simply arrived here, we wouldn’t have known the country was experiencing any crisis.”“Where we’ve been, everybody’s accepted credit cards,” Ms. Armstrong said on Friday. “If we hadn’t been tracking the news before we left, and simply arrived here, we wouldn’t have known the country was experiencing any crisis.”
She said she might have some trepidation about visiting Athens, given the images on television, but she had flown directly to the island via Heathrow. Her hotel is full, the clubs are bursting.She said she might have some trepidation about visiting Athens, given the images on television, but she had flown directly to the island via Heathrow. Her hotel is full, the clubs are bursting.
To others, she would say: “Do it in a heartbeat. It’s beautiful here. We’re having an amazing time.”To others, she would say: “Do it in a heartbeat. It’s beautiful here. We’re having an amazing time.”