Greece

Greece: Tourists Warned of Racist Attacks

Date: November 21st, 2012 |

The U.S. Embassy in Athens issued a security update Nov. 16 to warn its citizens of “unprovoked harassment and violent attacks” against persons of color, who may be mistaken for foreign migrants. In Athens and other major cities, the embassy has confirmed reports of U.S. African-American citizens being illegally detained or threatened. Other tourists who [read more]

Greece: Malaria Outbreak Could Add to Tourism Woes

Date: September 26th, 2012 |

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A peaceful election and calm summer season may have helped the tourism industry rebound, but a malaria outbreak could scare off potential visitors. Of the 50 malaria cases identified in Greece so far this year, most occurred in agricultural areas and the cities of Marathon, Markopoulos and Evrotas in the Laconia region. Mosquito control and [read more]

Greece and Turkey: Tourists Panic, Jump From Buildings During Quake

Date: June 13th, 2012 |

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Six people suffered injuries when they panicked and jumped from shaking buildings as a 6.0-magnitude earthquake rattled the southwest coast of Turkey June 10. No direct injuries were reported from this latest and strongest in a recent series of tremors, which hit near the popular Turkish resort of Oludeniz and was also felt on the [read more]

Greece: Vital Tourism Industry Down after Protests

Date: August 1st, 2011 |

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Greek officials are worried that tourism will take another hit due to heavy protests in Athens. Tourism accounts for roughly one fifth of Greece’s gross domestic product, and after a slow 2010, the industry was slowly rebounding. But many of the industries that rely heavily on tourism are organizing strikes to protest austerity measures. Taxi [read more]

Greece: Protests Loom Due to Austerity Measures

Date: June 8th, 2011 |

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Protestors calling for a general strike took over the Greek finance ministry building June 3. The new protests came as Greek officials negotiated a new round of austerity measures to combat the country’s debt crisis. Such belt tightening has been at the heart of numerous protests in Greece during the past year. Despite efforts to [read more]

Greece: Captain Killed, Tourists Injured in Mock Pirate Ship Accident

Date: October 9th, 2012 |

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The replica cannon on a mock pirate ship exploded during a tour Oct. 6, killing the boat’s captain and injuring five tourists on board. The boat was ferrying 26 passengers around the island of Kos in the southern Aegean Sea when the mishap occurred. It was not clear how the accident happened, but coast guard [read more]

Greece: Wildfires Threaten Chios, Prompt Arson Inquiry

Date: August 21st, 2012 |

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Authorities are investigating the cause of a raging wildfire that broke out on the eastern Aegean island of Chios Aug. 18, sending tourists and residents scrambling. More than 20 separate fires blazed out of control for four days while strong, erratic winds hampered firefighters’ efforts. Although forest fires are common during the long, dry summers, [read more]

Greece: Tensions Rise in Athens as more Strikes are Planned

Date: October 17th, 2011 |

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Tensions are rising in Athens as new strikes are planned for mid-October in response to the government’s latest austerity measures. Alongside the picture of enormous lines at gas stations due to a strike of refinery workers is the piling up of trash, a result of the ongoing strike by municipal workers and garbage collectors. Public [read more]

Greece: Civil Unrest Looms Ahead of Austerity

Date: June 23rd, 2011 |

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Athens’ Syntagma Square—the Greek parliamentary square—is now the center-stage for anti-austerity protests. The Papandreou government, after surviving a vote of confidence, is preparing for an austerity vote late in June to help bring the country’s finances in order. Though the majority of the protesters are peaceful, skirmishes have broken out. Protests are expected to continue [read more]

Greece: Workers Strike to Protest Austerity Measures

Date: February 15th, 2011 |

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Transport workers in Athens staged a 24-hour strike Feb. 14 in an almost daily series of strikes and demonstrations against economic reform. The country’s largest labor unions have called for a general strike Feb. 23, which could shut down many services and jam transportation networks. Unemployment is at a seven-year high and many Greeks oppose [read more]

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