tagged: Canada tourists to Greece, Greece July strikes, Greece tourists tourism strikes, greece travel, Greek strikes affect tourists, Tourists compensation

Tourists to Greece Can Expect More Strikes, says Canada

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Tourism

Tourists can expect more strikes in Greece this summer, says Canada’s Foreign Affairs Department.

Tourists in Greece can expect continued disruptions throughout the summer because of general strikes, possibly on short notice, the Foreign Affairs Department says in an updated travel report on the country.

“Subsequent to government budget cuts, the strikes and demonstrations have increased and are expected to continue to occur throughout the summer months, possibly on short notice”, says  the updated FA-Dpt’s travel report on Greece.

Furthermore the department warns Canadians to “avoid large public gatherings and demonstrations as they can turn violent without notice”

This summer Greece’s vital tourism industry has been hit by six  24-hour general strikes that ground airplanes and  halt buses, trains and ferries. Seamen unions have repeatedly blocked  cruise ships to dock to Piraeus, the largest and busiest port of the country (I will report later on this issue with a separate post).

 New Strikes on 14, 15 July 2010

Greek air-traffic controllers will stage a  24-h strike on July 14. This can be called off, even on short notice, if controllers get their overdue payments.

Public Sector Union ADEDY has called for a strike on July 15, the day the Labor Market Law will be voted at the Greek Parliament. The strike will start at 11 am and  last till the end of working time. Strikes of ADEDY affect transport, banks, hospitals and all sectors of public services. 

Stranded Tourists to be Compensated – € 70

Are you sitting strike-helpless on your luggage  at a  sea- or airport of the Greek Territory?  Aren’t you able to go home due to strikes? Do you need to spend extra money to sleep on a hotel bed and not on a park bench? No worries! Greek Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos has vowed  to compensate stranded tourists, whether they have stranded due to strikes or volcano ashes.

As much as I hear the compensation will be 70 Euros per day for extra room and board.  

So, collect your receipts and enjoy another beautiful day in marvellous Greece. 

 Oddly enough the compensation refers only to foreign tourists. Inland tourists do not seem to count. They are generous enough to pay the 70 euros compensation from their taxes pockets anyway…

Charles Thomson: Waviing Goddbye and Sailing to the Future (oil on canvas)