Greece, Europe and tourism!

[Jennybeans401]

Greece now joins most of Europe in anti-tourism protests aimed at the British.why? Surely tourism is tourism and why focus just on the Brits?

We are booked to go to Greece,I'm shocked.

Tourism is a growing problem.

Yes it has benefits for those locations.

But it also has negative consequences and as more people globally can afford to travel, popular tourist locations are being ‘hollowed out’ by it.

We see it in the UK - towns in Cornwall etc with barely any winter population, as a result no year-round shops, property unaffordable for the locals etc.

It’s sad for our cities if the populations are replaced by tourists in the central areas, short-term airbnbs as investments rather than homes for the local population.

Some of the non-urban tourists hotspots just look completely nightmarish now - it looks unpleasant as a tourist, let alone actually trying to live there.

Regarding what @Auburngal has said, the issue of AI (all inclusive) is also a big one - people aren’t visiting the tavernas or buying an ice cream because they don’t want to spend money outside of the cost of the hotel.

It is about this and is a problem in the UK as well. Millions of pounds worth of properties in the city that I live in in the UK owned by tax haven firms.

There are a numbet of issues, it's not all about English tourists, however some Spanish and Greek resorts do suffer from thr stereotypically badly behaved Brits Abroads.

The Air BnB issue is global and not about English tourists at all, for example there is increasing disquiet in London about the impact of AirBnB on prices but also the on the quality of life for people that live in blocks of flats - who wants endless randoms coming and going at all times of the day and leaving doors open, filling up the communal bins etc.. in their home?

I've read numerous articles about this and often find the issue has nothing to do with the sensationalist headlines.

Often the headlines imply that they only apply to Brits when, in fact, it's all tourists. Think not being allowed to wear beachwear in supermarkets.

There's also a movement against air BnB because it's reducing the availability and increasing prices for housing amongst locals.

You have conflated two separate issues OP.

They are protesting in Athens over a home grown housing crisis. The government has now taken (too late imo) steps to combat the airbnb issue including a 90 day limit on renting out a second residence and raising the golden visa purchase to 800.00e....

You will be most welcome in Athens and a wonderful time awaits you. It is a fabulous city!

Yes this is the same issue as our city on the south coast has. I was born in London and grew up there but couldn’t afford to live there so was excited in mid 00s to where I am now, we are lucky as two young people we could actually afford to buy a flat then, there is no chance of that for people in their mid 20s here now. My brother has stayed in London but is surrounded by empty houses, it is not a great community vibe going on.

Exciled to not ‘excited’

Could everyone just stop being so British on holiday? I see a lot of it and it makes me cringe.

• loudly slagging off the locals/ sites even though they can all understand you.
• getting unnecessarily drunk
• being loud
• moving there with no intention of learning the language
• being rude e.g. just ordering in English without even offering to try to speak the actual language.

And I'm British too btw

@Lenoftheglen we always do a 2 dayer in Athens before going to an island and a day at the end. I love it- the lit up acropolis is just a sight to behold every evening and little tavernas in plaka or Lycetta hill

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/city-of-lucerne-votes-to-restrict-airbnb-rentals/48353668#:~:text=Lucerne%20has%20become%20the%20latest,of%2090%20days%20a%20year.&text=Just%20over%2064%25%20of%20voters,Party%2C%20according%20to%20official%20results%20.

Some places in Switzerland heavily regulate Air BNB to make sure locals are not pushed out. This is a country where politics is primarily run at a local level for the benefit of local people who tend to have a voice. This is also a small very expensive country so I think they have had rules against foreign ownership of freehold property in some parts for years so naturally they would also crack down on Air BnB if it causes problems for locals.

New York has banned Air bnb so it will be interesting to see if it does do anything.

Regarding what @Auburngal has said, the issue of AI (all inclusive) is also a big one - people aren’t visiting the tavernas or buying an ice cream because they don’t want to spend money outside of the cost of the hotel.

The other issue is that AI can be cheaper than going self catering. My preference is always for self catering but looking this year free child places were all attached to AI holidays so self catering was £800 more expensive at the same hotel.

I do wonder if Air BnB as a concept has had its peak time during Covid when people were far more reluctant to stay in hotels which are essentially mass gatherings. I fully expect lots of countries to crack down more and more on it where the housing markets are very expensive and saturated. They won’t be able to get at house swapping though which is what a lot of my friends are now doing to save on holidays - can work extremely well for families.

Of course the media will aim the story at British tourists, because it's British media. Doesn't have the same shock value if they're writing about, say, Italian tourists does it?

On a side note I was in Greece last year and there was a British bar there doing a roast dinner every Sunday. I couldn't think of anything worse than eating a full roast in 35 degree heat.

I’ve been holidaying in Greece and the islands since the late 80’s and they are the friendliest most welcoming people I’ve met.

Weve never done all inclusive, always used local family owned tavernas and bars and avoid the full English and a pint of John Smiths type places like the plague.

I never understood going to another country and wanting to holiday like it’s Southend with sun - for me the appeal is that’s it’s so different from being at home.

Why don’t the locals take their argument to the government or their fellow people who are selling their houses to non doms to put on AirBnB?

I will not spend my hard earned in places where I leave the airport to be confronted by signs telling me to ‘go home’ or am screamed at by Golden Dawn supporters.

I am respectful of other people places, work too hard and have precious little time off for that shit. If the tourist board and airline encourage me to go then I will take it quite badly if I see offensive graffiti aimed at me and it will be the last time I go to that place and will encourage others to also not go.

Well that's up to the governments of these countries to deal with rather than blaming (,British) tourists. If people are offered a good, they will take a good deal

Do you think the UK is always welcoming to overseas visitors?

Stunning view isn't it. The sights and the smells...

That whole area during the day is magical too. Anifiotika immediately transports you to village life in a time gone by!

No but I never said it was. I am nice to visitors and anyone who’s not done anything to me. Anyone mistreated by Brits whilst visiting the UK has my full support in disliking the place and for not wanting to return.

To be fair though I’ve never seen any ‘tourist go home signs in London’. Maybe in Cornwall but not anywhere near me.

Ha! Londoners just mutter grumpily under our breath.

London doesn't really get very badly behaved groups of tourists though. The biggest crime seems to be large tour groups (previously from the US or Japan now more likely to be fromChina or India) standing around blocking the paths or crowding out historic places. But usually they are very polite and high spending so we keep our misgivings to ourselves.

There's also lots of tourist hotspots in Britain that don't particularly welcome British tourists. If we're not wanted amongst our own you can't expect neighbours to want us 🤣

@Lenoftheglen it really is- my holiday kicks off with a spinach and ricotta filo slice- although as I am now gluten free for medical reasons- I might have to find a new holiday kick off!!

Love how many times that article refers to "Athens in Greece"

@Whenwillitgetwarm "Why don’t the locals take their argument to the government or their fellow people who are selling their houses to non doms to put on AirBnB?"

They do, but when the government doesn't pay any attention they have to turn up the volume and resort to other tactics. Hence the protests and graffiti.

"I will not spend my hard earned in places where I leave the airport to be confronted by signs telling me to ‘go home’ or am screamed at by Golden Dawn supporters.
I am respectful of other people places, work too hard and have precious little time off for that shit."

Are many tourists really respectful of the fact that cities and resorts are places where other people live? They too work hard and want to enjoy their cities and not have to live in an unaffordable theme park where the needs of "tourists" take priority over the local population. Tourists are "guests" and while they should of course expect to be treated with respect, that respect has to be mutual. Getting the balance right is the challenge - people are getting wise to the fact that turning their beautiful peaceful sandy cove into Blackpool/Hamburg/Rotterdam-On-Sea actually benefits nobody.