Faliraki tourist market “has collapsed”
The tourist industry in the Greek resort of Faliraki has reportedly “collapsed” following a year of bad publicity over bad behaviour and drunkenness by British tourists.
As reported, the resort on the island of Rhodes was hit by scandal last year, with police arresting club reps for arranging illegal pub crawls, the fatal stabbing on a 17-year-old, and numerous reports of lewd behaviour by tourists.
Now, the Daily Telegraph reports, despite Greek police promising a “softly-softly” approach after taking training from British officers bookings are well down.
The newspaper reports that First Choice’s youth brand 2wentys has withdrawn from the resort due to lack of demand, and Club 18-30 has booked just 300 rooms compared to 2,000 last year.
Company spokesman Dave Smithson is quoted as saying: “Demand had dropped 70 per cent. Youth fashion is a cyclical thing. It was Ayia Napa before Faliraki and it has now moved on.”
The Telegraph states that the island is now looking to Germany and Austria to redevelop its tourist market.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
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