Greece To Compensate Stranded Tourists

The draft bill for the compensation of tourists stranded in Greece due to extraordinary events such as strikes or natural disasters was tabled in Parliament on 24 August.

According to the draft bill, the Greek government will pay 50 euros per day for a maximum of two days to each foreign tourist who could prove to have been unable to leave Greece on the scheduled date of departure.

The sum of 100 euros ($126) is to cover the cost of room and board for those not compensated by their travel agents.

According to press reports, the draft bill would not cover cases related to problems in regards to passenger travel within Greece.

The voting of the draft bill is still pending but if it is approved by Parliament it would be retroactive and cover the period from 28 June to 30 September.

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos announced the tourist compensation scheme in June.

When the scheme was initially announced tourism professionals wondered if it was a display of the govern­ment’s surrender to illegal demonstrations and strikes.