Tourism and how it's affected?

[sedgley-jay]

Hi all,

Been a while since i last posted.

My (now) wife and i are planning on our 5th holiday in Thassos this summer, a second honeymoon as our first was Cuba last month but you can never beat the emerald isle.

Was just wondering what or how the current political and financial situation would do to the tourism in respect of costs.

Any views would be appreciated.

Jay an Karen

[mike45]

Hello Jay and Karen,

there is actually an discussion in the german forum about going to Thassos in June (im Juni nach Thassos).

Very different opinions are to be read there.

Actually I don't think no one can give a forecast about the situation in Greece in June or July. If the greek people continue with their massive protests, trevelling to Thassos is probably a bad decision this year. The economic situation in Greece is detoriating rapidly and yesterday there have already 3 persons been killed during big demonstrations in Athens.
But that is my personal opinion at the moment.

Mike

[Mike and K H]

Hi

I really don't think that whats happening on the mainland (sad as it is) will affect the tourism industry in Thassos. Life seems to go on there regardless of what happens in Athens. I for one will be lending my support to Greece by taking my holiday as usual on my favourite island!

[mike45]

@Mike and KH

I agree to You in that violence won't happen on an island like Thassos.

But tourists in Thassos are already affected. Airports have been closed. The ferries to Thassos have already 2 or 3 days not operated during the last weeks.
If the situation in Greece escalates more, the consequences for tourists will probably become more severe due to a collapse of transportation, shortages of food, fuel....

Mike

[Jocelyn]

I am getting more concerned by the day with the situation in Greece and knock on effects to air and ferry travel. In addition that pesky ash cloud is still acting itself and the Euro at an all time low!

Don't think violence will spread to beautiful Thassos and don't think we will go hungry although some products could be hard to get and petrol/taxis and bus fares will increase no doubt.

All that said I still cannot wait to go back to Thassos very soon

[sedgley-jay]

Thanks for the responses.

I must say i am a little worried about the knock on effects. And whilst i know that Thassos is like a different world to mainland Greece, there will still be implications i feel.

Still doesn't stop me wanting to come back though.

[BigAl]

There will be many strikes and this will cause disruption to travel in Greece (airports, Planes, ferries, buses), hopefully the violence will not escalate.
It is tragic that 3 people have lost their lives for just doing their jobs, the banks are at fault for a lot of the problems in the world at the moment but the ordinary people who work for them should not be a target.

[sepan vousikos]

there are no problems on thassos.ferries were on strike but only for a few hours.if you are travelling with thompsons ,the ferriy will have already be prebooked,and so to the airport.a lot of your worries are unfounded,just come and enjoy your holidays, sepan.

[Ade and Julie]

On the plus side I didn't find prices in shops restaurants or bars had changed at all when we were there last week. I know it is early in the year though.....

[gpzzone]

I fly out in the morning and perhaps naively am not too concerned. I think travelling independently helps, ie without family etc.

Initially I agreed with the consensus on here insomuch as I don't think that the Thassians will allow the troubles to disrupt their tourism industry, but then, on reading the thread I eventually realised that actually they probably won't have much control over it.

After all we all need to fly into the municipal airport, grab a ferry, and eat when we're on the Island, and if any of that is threatened, we're snookered!

I'll report back if there are any issues.

[gpzzone]

I'm on the island at the minute, and it is extremely quiet.

Ironically it doesn't seem to be the internal domestic issues that worries the islanders, but it seems that many of the tourists are cancelling their reservations. Certainly here in Trypiti they are looking at a very quiet summer due to the wider economic problems, with visitors from many Western European countries cancelling due to lack of funds, and of course the ash, & the Greek economy issues.

There is evidence of price increases unleaded petrol is an average 1.49 Euros.

For anyone flyng independently with Thomson be advised that the bus timings on Sundays don't fit in well with arrival onto the island, you'll be waiting 1 1/2 hours if your heading to Limenaria, Potos etc.

I enquired as to the taxi costs and they wanted 40 Euros from Limenas to Limenaria, which I thought was a bit steep, ( about £1 per km) so I waited with a Mythos and got the bus!

Anyway the good news ts that the Island and people are still brilliant!

[Jocelyn]

gpzzone - thanks for the update. Sorry to hear that tourism is being affected on beautiful Thassos. We travel 23rd May for two weeks and simply cannot wait to be back on lovely Thassos.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

[shepre]

gpzzone - thanks for taking time out on your holiday to keep us updated on the situation on the island - sad to hear that people are cancelling their plans. When we first visited 20 years ago, there were many power strikes during our fortnight but out came the candles and, if you had to wait a bit longer for your dinner, hey ho - we were on holiday and the islanders took it all in their stride and made the best of it. I know things are more serious this time around but, if at all possible, I would encourage everyone to honour their bookings and let's do our little bit towards the economy. Please keep us updated when you can - have you changed money yet and, if with a Nationwide card, any clues as to current exchange rate???

[vinnie caira]

hi, just got back after having taken advantage of thomsons first flight of the season discount. as you all prob know i have a house in skala rachoni, it did,nt seem quiet in skala rachoni for the first week of the season.most of the local hotels seemd reasonably busy as well as the restaurants. all the prices seem to be the same as last year, in fact one or two restaurants where doing a three course a la carte dinner for a very reasonable price. also thassos town did,nt seem especially quiet. as for the flight, it arrived back in manchester approx 15 mins early as the flying route was through yugouslavia, germany and belgium. a lot of empty seats though. impressive brand new aeroplane. as for the economy on the island, hard to say although theres plenty of houses being built in skala rachoni, seems to be mainly british people buying them. weather was superb. fuel prices expensive. regards, vinnie

[lynne read]

Hi everyone

Not been on here for a while was very busy last year and had a lovely winter so this year??? at the moment the island is beginning to get a bit busier but I think the world cup is having an effect (it was the same as when we moved here in 2006) also with the economy crisis people are naturally worried but seeing the things on sky news I would rather be here than in the UK - yes things have gone up here but the raises are not as high as they put things up in the UK usually things go up by a few cents not like the Uk, cigarettes, beer and the like has gone up a bit but still a lot cheaper, food has risen a bit but most tavernas have kept the prices the same as last year there has been a lot of new hotels being built and most of these are getting bookings for this year so things are not as bad as everyone makes out to be.

Also the protests in Athens have NOT affected Thassos at all and the "normal" strikes are the same as the past 4 years since my being here - one day here - one day there, the weather has caused more disruption than the strikes. There are more protests in London than here and people dont stop going to London because of it!!! The media and news have been scaremongering people and using Greece as an example but the crisis in the UK is much worse than here in Greece.

So get your holidays booked and come on over the weather is great, the beaches are great and last but not least the people of Thassos are great.

Lynne