True, the UK’s reputation has been tarnished somewhat in recent years by booze-fuelled antics in places like Malia and Kavos, but Brit-bashing in Greece is still rare.
“British tourists are still quite popular here, and since the Covid pandemic locals actually value the British even more,” says English teacher Enid Monica-Robinson from Loughborough, who lives on Skiathos, a ferry-hop from Mamma Mia! island Skopelos.
It was telling that, even as other countries were imposing strict rules on British visitors during the dark days of the pandemic, Greece kept the door open to UK arrivals.
Furthermore, Greeks, many of whom hankered for “Grexit” after a “no” vote in the 2015 bailout referendum was ignored, generally sympathise with Britain’s collective decision to leave the EU. “Wages were reduced to nothing during our economic crisis and pensions were slashed by more than half – even though it was often grandparents who had to support their entire family because there was so much unemployment,” says Manolis Papadakis, who works in a bar in Heraklion. “We were very angry, so we understood why Britain wanted Brexit.”
Last year, some 4.5 million UK tourists flocked to swim from Greek beaches and sup Mythos beer in its tavernas. However, while demonstrations are becoming regular occurrences in Mallorca and the Canary Islands, protests against tourists are almost unheard of in Greece. Even during the so-called “Beach Towels Movement” last year, when locals protested about beaches being swamped by sunbeds, Greeks praised British tourists for their support. “British visitors… realise that we are committed to safeguarding our island’s authentic character and contributing to its sustainable future,” said Nicolas Stephanou, a member of the Paros Citizens’ Movement for Free Beaches.
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/greece/byron-brexit-why-greeks-love-british-tourists/
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Publish date : 2024-04-22 03:00:00
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