Greek unrest punctures bookings – but Sunvil says holidaymakers are unaffected

The civil unrest in Greece has affected holiday bookings to the destination from the UK by 15%, according to The Co-operative Travel.

The company analysed over 130,000 holidays booked this week and found Brits turning away from the traditional holiday hotspot, prompted by TV and newspaper reports of rioting in the streets of Athens.

Instead they are looking to Spain and Portugal, which have seen a bookings rise of 15% and 20% respectively on the week compared to the same week last year.  Malta also saw an enormous 32% increase in late bookings.

The blow to the Greek tourism economy is all the more bitter as the destination was faring well until the public unrest, picking up business from travellers cautious about travelling to Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt after the Arab Spring.

Greece’s booking volumes were up 3% on 2010 and spending on Greek holidays was up 7%, according to The Cooperative Travel.

But the fall in business will hit Greece at the worse time, just as late summer bookers get their act together. Greek holidays normally account for 16% of these sales.

The Cooperative Travel says the price for Greek holidays has also fallen, with the average per person price being paid this week falling to £530, from a previous average of £600.

Managing director of The Co-operative Travel Mike Greenacre said: “The total holiday market is holding steady and in recent weeks has shown signs of good growth.

“However, events this year have really shaken public confidence in certain countries.  People don’t want to gamble with their holiday and North African destinations and now Greece have suffered as a result.

“With people feeling like their options are being squeezed, Spain and Portugal are the obvious alternatives for a good value summer break.  These countries are not without their own economic problems, so the significant increase in visitors to the region will come as a relief to its very important tourism sector.”

But Greece specialists Sunvil say the political turmoil should not affect UK holidaymakers.

Managing director Noel Josephides said: “As in 2010, reports on the  rioting in Greece in the press have been very much exaggerated.  The problems are confined to one or two city centres and have no effect on holidaymakers at all. 

“As today in the UK, Greeks have a right to demonstrate and they do so peacefully.  At Sunvil we have had clients in Athens who have not been affected because the problems are confined to Syntagma Square. 

“It is a great pity that the press, as ever, wants to sensationalise events, so prompting a fall in bookings.  Those who know Greece well are perfectly aware that the holiday industry there is functioning as normal.”