Greek tourism dries up as uncertainty over economic future continues

It’s usually the lifeline of the Greek economy, but the economic crisis and political instability are taking a toll on the country’s tourism industry.

Officials say potential visitors are even calling and asking whether there will be enough food for them. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen found hotels are nearly empty on the usually-busy island of Zakynthos.

“This picturesque island was once crammed with visitors, but no longer,” Lowen said. “Brits down by 20 percent. Germans and Irish by almost a half.”

The impact of Greece’s financial and political crisis is further hurting Greece’s economy by scaring away tourists, which typically drive 20 percent of Greece’s economic activity. That’s traditionally kept Greece afloat.

Christina Tetradis, president of the local hotel association, said all the uncertainty has led potential visitors to cautiously eye whether Greece is worth visiting.

“We’ve has questions on the Internet and from our email asking us whether there’s going to be enough food for them, or if whether something happens in Greece, whether they’re going to be able to leave the country,” she said.

When people are worried about being able to eat, chances are they’re not going to be choosing to vacation there.

“This is all a big, big misunderstanding,” Tetradis said.

Lowen said its extraordinary to see Greece, such an established-tourism destination, practically devoid of tourists.

All those absent tourists mean that Greek employees wages and hours are being cut, which only further derails the economy and continues the downward economic spiral.

Greek business owners say fears are misplaced. Some say, rightly or wrongly, that if people are still comfortable visiting Israel, despite suicide bombings and occasional rocket attacks, there’s no reason to stay away from Greece.

“It shouldn’t be like this,” Lowen said. “Zakynthos is a jewel of an island. Lush mountains, idyllic coves and a treasure hidden in the warm waters.”

Specifically, he’s referring to endangered loggerhead turtles that nest on the shores of the island and swim in its waters, just off-shore.

But even those, he said, aren’t interesting tourists. Elections are coming later this month. The new government will be expected to do what it can to boost the struggling tourism industry.