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Why do Greeks demonstrate? Will this effect their tourism industry?
Greece applied for a loan from the EU Union. Let me just take Germany as an example because Germany will pay the most. Germans approved the loan under certain terms and condition. One was, that Greek has to save money (logical). I do understand that it hurts Greek Individuals to face pay cuts and paying higher tax -but, do Greeks ever think about tax payers of countries helping out Greek? Why don’t Greeks stick together now and make it possible to fulfill terms and conditions of this loan?
On the other hand, will i.e. tax increase effect the Greek tourism industry? Today I heard on European news that some European tourists already cancelled their vacation because they do not want to spend their money in a country which might cost them anyway. One TV Show was even asking for going to a Greek Restaurant, dine and then asking for a loan instead of paying.
I would like to hear some Greek opinions on this. Please note, that I am neutral. Greek doesn’t cost me a penny but somehow I do understand the reactions on both side.
Why do Greeks demontrate against savings plans of their Government and will these savings plans effect their tourism industry?
Thanks for sharing.
Greeks complain that their politicians "ate" their money. That might be somewhat true, but in a democracy, politicians are elected by the people. It is the people’s responsibility, whom they vote. Greeks in general cheat their tax office. Yesterday, a German tax investigator found out, that only 0.1 percent of the Greek people stated in their income tax declaration, that they earn more than EUR 100,000!!! Only 373 pools (which have to be paid tax for) out of 17,500 were declared in Athens. The Greek tax office loses about 22 billion Euros every year because of tax cheaters. It was said, that it is a common thing in Greece. Only 5 percent of the sail and motor yachts are being paid tax for! – Of course this situation will effect their tourist industry. Greeks publically blamed Germans to be Nazis, because the German Government had several concerns about giving loans to them. I believe that there won’t be many Germans in Greece this year! Others are afraid of demonstrations…. It was shown on TV that Greek pensioners receive 14 times a year pension! Unmarried daughters of state servants inherit the state pensions of their parents!!! That is blowing money out of the window! In rest of Europe, no pensioner receives 14 times pension a year! I believe, that rest-of-Europe pensioners won’t spend their money (only 12 times pension a year) for vacations in Greece any longer. They will rather travel to Turkey or Egypt (North Africa in general) These countries will be booming this year. No civil servant’s daughter will inherit the state pension of her parents in rest-of-Europe!
@ Vasiliki: In Germany, people work at least 1920 hours per year! And when talked about effectiveness, it is much more than 2.500 working hours, plus people work until they turn 67! So it is at least 7 years more than in some bankrupt other countries. You know, it is not fair, to sneak into the EU and EUROland by betraying and committing fraud, and then to complaint, if other nationals of countries that "have-to-pay-for-Greece-to-help- Greeks-with-their-fraud" cannot understand why they should pay. The loans will not help nothing. Greece is and was bankrupt, and just committed fraud to become a member of the EU. The only thing that will happen is, that many tourists won’t come anymore. I know several European families who cancelled their vacations in Greece. They changed to Italy, Turkey and Tunisia, Egypt. And you know what? I don’t blaim them. Nobody wants to support the Greek fraud to the EU! I just feel sorry for the other countries that wanted to become a member of the EUROzone but cannot because they are honest and don’t commit fraud to join the Eurozone. – By the way, German daughters and widows of soldiers got a once-for-all-payment of 40 Marks (about 20 Euros) and then were told to work for their living. Nobody inherited neither pensions nor anything else. Do you think any French, Spanish, Portugiese, Dutch did? I don’t think so. And, by the way, my mother-in-law worked until she turned 69, plus she raised 4 kids, and she has a pension of 768 Euros monthly, 12 times a year! And that is not even average! There are many pensioners with less pension in rest-of-Europe!
Greeks complain that their politicians "ate" their money. That might be somewhat true, but in a democracy, politicians are elected by the people. It is the people’s responsibility, whom they vote. Greeks in general cheat their tax office. Yesterday, a German tax investigator found out, that only 0.1 percent of the Greek people stated in their income tax declaration, that they earn more than EUR 100,000!!! Only 373 pools (which have to be paid tax for) out of 17,500 were declared in Athens. The Greek tax office loses about 22 billion Euros every year because of tax cheaters. It was said, that it is a common thing in Greece. Only 5 percent of the sail and motor yachts are being paid tax for! – Of course this situation will effect their tourist industry. Greeks publically blamed Germans to be Nazis, because the German Government had several concerns about giving loans to them. I believe that there won’t be many Germans in Greece this year! Others are afraid of demonstrations…. It was shown on TV that Greek pensioners receive 14 times a year pension! Unmarried daughters of state servants inherit the state pensions of their parents!!! That is blowing money out of the window! In rest of Europe, no pensioner receives 14 times pension a year! I believe, that rest-of-Europe pensioners won’t spend their money (only 12 times pension a year) for vacations in Greece any longer. They will rather travel to Turkey or Egypt (North Africa in general) These countries will be booming this year. No civil servant’s daughter will inherit the state pension of her parents in rest-of-Europe!
@ Vasiliki: In Germany, people work at least 1920 hours per year! And when talked about effectiveness, it is much more than 2.500 working hours, plus people work until they turn 67! So it is at least 7 years more than in some bankrupt other countries. You know, it is not fair, to sneak into the EU and EUROland by betraying and committing fraud, and then to complaint, if other nationals of countries that "have-to-pay-for-Greece-to-help- Greeks-with-their-fraud" cannot understand why they should pay. The loans will not help nothing. Greece is and was bankrupt, and just committed fraud to become a member of the EU. The only thing that will happen is, that many tourists won’t come anymore. I know several European families who cancelled their vacations in Greece. They changed to Italy, Turkey and Tunisia, Egypt. And you know what? I don’t blaim them. Nobody wants to support the Greek fraud to the EU! I just feel sorry for the other countries that wanted to become a member of the EUROzone but cannot because they are honest and don’t commit fraud to join the Eurozone. – By the way, German daughters and widows of soldiers got a once-for-all-payment of 40 Marks (about 20 Euros) and then were told to work for their living. Nobody inherited neither pensions nor anything else. Do you think any French, Spanish, Portugiese, Dutch did? I don’t think so. And, by the way, my mother-in-law worked until she turned 69, plus she raised 4 kids, and she has a pension of 768 Euros monthly, 12 times a year! And that is not even average! There are many pensioners with less pension in rest-of-Europe!
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Greece has become more and more expensive. They said some prices would rise but I’m not sure it will affect tourism. That would be kind of stupied since so much depends on tourism. But I’m not sure politicians (from north to south, from east to west) can understand such simple things. Now, since it’s been spoken about Germany, Portugal has its own crisis and it contracted a very high debt so that they (we) could lend money to Greece. I think it’s fair. But if the Greeks don’t really change their situation and if we get to be paid less because our politicians are lending money they don’t really have, I don’t think that will be a cause of great satisfaction. Apart from that, my heart is with Greece (where I have lived and visited several times too) and I hope the corrupts and speculators will all be jailed for life in dark, moist places, full of rats anc cockroaches.
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We are in the middle of the civil war. Crisis escalate. Rivers of refugees. Avoid us for your sake !
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Terrorism ! No banks, no foreign capital ! Not safe at all !
Official US Embassy report :
The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. Like other countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement for free cross-border movement, Greece’s open borders with its European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. As the first entry point into Schengen from points south and east, Greece’s long coastline and many islands also heighten the possibility that foreign-based terrorists might try to exploit Greece’s borders. Domestic terrorist organizations such as Revolutionary Struggle and “Sect of Revolutionaries” have become increasingly active against both domestic and foreign targets in Greece. Recent attacks and attempted attacks have included the use of Molotov cocktails (gasoline bombs), small arms and rifle fire, and improvised explosive devices, the largest being a 50-kilo car bomb which failed to detonate before the police arrived. The Greek police forces, other Greek governmental agencies, private American and Greek businesses, and the United States Embassy have been attacked in the last three years. Recent actions indicate that the perpetrators are indiscriminate. The risk of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” in the event of a terrorist action is a concern for residents and visitors. U.S. tourists or residents in Greece should remain vigilant, exercise caution, and monitor local developments. Some current terrorist organizations are aligned with the ideology of the older Marxist terrorist group November 17 (N17) which targeted Greek businessmen and officials, as well as officials from NATO countries in Greece, from the mid-1970s until the early part of this decade. N17 terrorists murdered 23 people, including five U.S. Government employees. Strikes and demonstrations are a regular occurrence. Greece is a stable democracy and these activities for the most part are orderly and lawful. However, a wave of incidents started when a teenager was shot and killed in an encounter with the police in December 2008. Incidents occurred throughout Greece, but the primary sources of violence were in Athens and Thessaloniki, Protestors there engaged in violent confrontations with the police and carried out destructive vandalism and rioting in localized areas, some of which are areas frequented by tourists, injuring numerous police officers. Riot control procedures often include the use of tear gas. Visitors should keep abreast of news about demonstrations from local news sources and hotel security. When there are demonstrations, visitors should be aware of and avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. The Omonia and Exharchia areas of Athens are at particular risk for crime and politically-motivated violence; U.S. Embassy personnel and their families have been urged strongly to avoid these areas between 9 pm and dawn.
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Most of embassies advise people not to travel to destinations like Greece, Mogadishu or Bangkok in such times, and is the possibility the situation might escalate and occupy the airport in order to make their voices heard. I would suspect the islands might not be affected as in Athens for example, however it always takes a small group people with ‘problems’ to affect the tourists’ life.
Keep an eye on the news and Home office web site.
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All banks are closed. Foreign investments and capital are running out of Greece.
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We’re hungry for love !
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They demonstrate because they are bankrupt
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