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AITO GREEK OPERATORS DECLAIM HAGUE STATEMENT

February 22, 2012 for AITO - Association of Independent Tour Operators

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (www.aito.com) is upset at reports that the FCO is, seemingly, treating the whole of Greece as a war zone according to media reports.

Says AITO Chairman Derek Moore: “To say, as was reported yesterday, that Britons may be put at risk if the civil unrest in the country worsens, is alarmist to say the least and very far from reality. 

“AITO’s specialist holiday companies working with Greece know the situation very well indeed, and they are unanimously reporting that there is no problem except in two very small, highly-contained areas – firstly, around Syntagma Square, by the Greek Parliament in Athens, and, secondly, in central Thessaloniki, Greece’s next largest city. This is nothing new – it’s exactly the same situation as the past three years. 

“Very few holidaymakers fly into Athens or Thessaloniki.  To claim that Britons living in Greece or visiting on holiday are likely to need emergency evacuation is, quite frankly, ridiculous.  The riots in London, Manchester and Birmingham last summer were on a significantly bigger scale than anything in Greece – yet did the Home Secretary, Theresa May, advise people against visiting the Cotswolds or the Lake District?  She would have been laughed out of Parliament had she done so, I’m pretty sure.”

The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, is reported to have “urged Britons to register with the Consulate…in case Greece goes under”.  AITO believes this to be irresponsible; it is, indeed, contrary to Hague’s own department’s advice, which states “We are encouraging all British nationals travelling and living abroad to register with us on LOCATE, even for short trips” – there’s no mention of Greece in particular.  Indeed, the FCO’s own Travel Advice for Greece makes no mention of such plans for evacuation.

“The Foreign Secretary should, we think, temper his advice and issue a prompt statement to clarify the situation”, says AITO Chairman Derek Moore.  “There is no risk to British holidaymakers who travel on chartered flights direct to resorts on the islands and Greek mainland and who will go nowhere near Athens or Thessaloniki. 

“It would be more sensible of the British Government to encourage visitors to Greece to help the Greeks, who have hosted many millions of British holidaymakers over the years.  Tourism is one of the few industries in Greece with any potential for growth, and offers the Greeks their best chance of escaping the current financial turmoil.

“Greece is safe, open for business and looking forward to welcoming its overseas visitors with open arms this summer.  Greece offers some of the Mediterranean’s finest beaches, cleanest seas and the unique hospitality of the Greek people.”

For details of the many specialist holiday companies offering holidays to Greece, see www.aito.com.

Ends/21^st February, 2012

Press:  For further information, or to interview Derek Moore, Chairman of AITO, please ring Sue Ockwell at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440/07831 126 356 or email s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk or p.law@travelpr.co.uk.

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