Financial Times
July 1, 2011
Greece’s socialist government expects eurozone finance ministers to approve payment of a €12bn loan tranche during a teleconference on Saturday, averting the threat of an imminent Greek default.
But the government’s relief that the reform programme is back on track is tempered by worries that a projected recovery in tourism, with visitor numbers expected to increase by over 10 per cent this year, may be affected by this week’s unrest.
“Visitors in Athens continue to enjoy a secure and tranquil environment and a very vibrant cultural experience,” said Pavlos Yeroulanos, the tourism minister. But Sete, an association of Greek hotels and tour operators, warned that tourist bookings had already been affected by the protests. “This year’s positive trend in arrivals is in danger of being reversed by negative global publicity for Greece,” it said.
Two Americans walking across Syntagma square, who gave their names as Margaret and James, from Massachusetts, said they had considered cancelling their trip to Athens after watching television coverage of the protests.
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