NATO Strikes - What's the Impact on Travel to Greece?
Dateline: 4/07/99 UPDATEThe Greece for Visitors mailbox is full of questions about the situation in Yugoslavia and how it affects travel to Greece. Here are additional news updates to help you make your own decision about traveling to Greece. Here's own opinion on the situaion. If you have accessed this article to see previously posted information, the previous version also follows this new report.
NO TRAVEL WARNING AGAINST GREECE, U.S. AMBASSADOR SAYS
The Athens News Agency reported today that the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Nicholas Burns, clarified the recently-updated "travel advisory" on Greece. Some tourists, and some Greeks, had interpreted the addition of mildly cautionary language pertaining to demonstrations at the embassy and elsewhere as a warning not to travel in Greece.
A Thessaloniki tourism conference sponsored by the embassy was canceled, but not as an indication that tourists should not travel to Greece, Burns stated.
Note from your Guide:
The "travel advisory" term simply means the present information sheet on Greece. "Travel advisories" are available on every country, including Britain, France, Canada, Denmark, etc. The confusion arose from the term "travel advisory" as opposed to "travel warning". No "travel warning" has been issued about Greece, and none is expected in the foreseeable future. "Travel Warnings" are currently in effect for Zaire, Columbia, and other areas where there have been recent attacks on U.S. tourists and travelers.
CLOUD OF 'MATERIAL' NOT HAZARDOUS
The Athens News Agency also reported that a cloud of "material" settling over part of the island of Euboea was not hazardous and consisted of radar-jamming material used by NATO against Serbian radar signals.
While the exact composition of the material was not revealed, it is in pieces too large to inhale, and is not radioactive, or toxic to humans. The possibility of additional "clouds" over parts of Greece is not ruled out.
CYPRUS ASSISTS GI RELEASE EFFORT
CNN Interactive reports that Cyprus House Speaker Spyros Kyprianou is helping to broker a possible release of the three captured U.S. soldiers. He is traveling to Belgrade with the hope of negotiating a release soon.
YOUR GUIDE'S VIEW - TRAVEL TO GREECE IS SAFE Barring a major escalation of the conflict into Greek territory, or an opportunistic foray between Greece and Turkey, my opinion is that travel will be safe and pleasant, particularly in the islands and the southern parts of Greece. In the north, you may find some delays due to increased security, and there may also be the processing of refugees which could, by a stretch of imagination, affect travel. I cannot guarantee that there will be no incidents, but I feel that these are very unlikely.
To put it in personal terms, I am planning on traveling to Greece myself this year. I would go now if I had the tickets and time.
There will continue to be protests, which are unpredictable. They should be avoided if possible. These are mainly likely in major metropolitan areas, such as Athens and Thessaloniki, and at military bases such as Souda Bay on Crete.
Generally, the Greeks are very warm toward American people, though they are not too thrilled with some of the actions of our government. On an individual basis, I expect that American tourists will receive the same warm welcome from the Greeks as always. Remember, almost every Greek you meet has an American-born cousin, brother-in-law, sister-in-law or other relative. The Aegean will still be buoyant and soothing, and the natural beauty of Greece will be unchanged.
On a purely economic note, which is hard to do in the face of such a human crisis in Kosovo, the prices should be better and the crowds should be fewer. Your trip to Greece should be a memorable one for all the RIGHT reasons.
OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST:
U.S. Embassy in Athens Website
Includes latest State Dep't briefings on Kosovo, other information.
(3/30/99)
Bombs are falling in Kosovo, and tensions throughout the region are high. Will this military action affect your travel plans to Greece?
Barring a major escalation of the conflict, the answer is no. Greece, while opposed to the NATO action, expects that travel and tourism will continue virtually uninterrupted. Acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou says that "Greece is an oasis of stability in the region, and shall continue to be." The Greece-based Macedonia Press Agency reports Athens has formally protested remarks made by Clinton suggesting that the Kosovo action could destabilize relations between Turkey and Greece, even to the point of an armed conflict.
What can the traveller really expect? I'd look for unexpected delays due to tighter security, especially at northern mainland destinations, such as Thessaloniki, and major hubs such as Athens. At this moment, the Athens News Agency, Athens' foremost English-language daily, reports that Athens airport is jammed with television crews and other media racing to get into Yugoslavia. This should change as either the conflict passes, or the journalists all get into place.
If you have business at the American Embassy, be alert for reports of anti-war rallies such as tonight's (March 30th) all-night candlelight vigil. Obviously, embassy security will be tighter than usual and may interfere with normal procedures. Call first.
Americans and citizens of other NATO countries will do well to avoid heated political debates and arguments. Though there may be some anti-American government sentiment, most Greeks have U.S. ties and older Greeks fondly remember another intervention of ours, against the Nazis and Italians in World War II, both of whom occupied Greek territory.
Allow yourself extra time wherever possible to accommodate unexpected delays. Better yet, try to allow yourself true flexibility so that you can choose to spend another day in Athens or take other transportation without a major economic hardship.
Remember, none of this is particularly new. For years, Greece has been in a state of tension over both Turkish problems and the Macedonian question. Guards with machine guns at airports and scrambling jets overhead have been encountered by travelers for the past several years.
Since Yugoslavia and adjacent regions have been responsible for a surge of tourists to Greece in recent years, the traveler may actually find slightly lighter crowds this year, especially in Northern Greece and its coastal islands.
It's likely that there will be a spillover effect in other areas of Greece as well. From the tourist's viewpoint, expect some excellent deals.
The ANA also reports that Greece has kindly agreed to participate fully in the refugee assistance program, in response to a formal request by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Putting aside acrimonious feelings based on the new Republic's choice of name, one that many Greeks feel should only be used for Greece, Greece will be assisting FYROM in handling the increased surge of refugees, with centers planned for Pella, Florina, Kozani, Kilkis, Larissa and Ioannina.
I'll be keeping an eye on the reports and will be passing along anything that looks to affect your travels in Greece this season. Travel safely!
