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Agents reassured as euro crisis deepens
Agents and consumers are being reassured that bookings for holidays to Spain and Greece are safe as Europe is hit by another debt crisis.
As Spain becomes the latest euro zone country in the firing line, Laurence Hicks, director of holiday rentals company CLC Leisure, looked to calm fears.
"The situation in Spain is very different to that of Greece," he said.
"There has been no widespread public unrest or violence, there is a stable government and stringent austerity measures aimed at delivering an effective recovery are already in place.
"Of course the economy is going through a very difficult period but the impact is mainly being felt in the cities and industrial areas.
"The popular holiday destinations like the Costa del Sol and Canaries remain relatively unaffected. Hotels, bars, restaurants and all the entertainment and travel amenities are open for business. Holidaymakers can be reassured that Spain’s economic problems will not spoil this summer’s vacation."
Meanwhile Multicom boss John Howell told agents to keep calm and keep on selling to Greece.
Howell, managing director of the travel software specialist, believes too many vested interests have too much to lose to allow Greece to fail.
He believes that if Greece leaves the Euro it would be good news for the tourism industry in the long term.
"Greece has been in free fall for a long time now," he said. "They have effectively been in recession for five years already so what difference would another year make?
"Hoteliers and related businesses will be doing everything they can to safeguard their livelihood and ensure holidaymakers are not affected.
"Even if Greece were to leave the Euro and return to the drachma in the long term that would be good news for the tourist industry as Greek holidays would offer even greater value for money.
"My advice for agents during these uncertain times is to keep calm and keep selling Greece."
A spokesman for ABTA said the ongoing problems in the euro zone were, in fact, benefitting UK holidaymakers with the pound currently strong against the euro.
"In addition, countries around the Mediterranean which are heavily reliant on tourism are now even keener to encourage tourism," he said.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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