‘Let’s Show Faith and Love in What We Do and Know Best: Greece’ – Opinion

Viewpoint by Vice President of Aldemar Resorts, Alexandros Angelopoulos.

In the midst of a problematic season, but also of a historic for our country time, we are being called on to show faith in the government’s actions and the willingness to contribute, to the extent that it is asked of us, to a prompt and effective solution.

In this period, there were regular updates on daily issues facing the industry as well as of the concerns of hundreds of thousands of sector employees.

This week marks the end of a marathon battle of information. There is nothing to differentiate the data. Every new day is a day of challenges and hope.

After all, how different would we be from those supporting conflict if we did not support efforts towards an agreement; and agreement can only be reached if our prime minister feels our support and listens to our concerns without feeling the division within the country.

So I urge that we remain focused on our daily issues and reiterate the message:

1. We continue to be a safe and unique holiday destination.
2. We wish to stop being on the front page of the international news coverage.
3. We want only the portrayal of a beautiful Greece, a European capital and of our diverse homeland. After all, there is no place like Greece.
4. Those of us who said “yes” embrace those who said “no” and those of us who said “no” embrace those who said “yes” because we share a common future.
5. We are doing our best to respond to issues concerning resource efficiency with creative solutions and mutual support.
6. We are in constant contact with the heads of local sector bodies and have selected a common stance and communication. Ideally, we release a daily bulletin in each destination in efforts to reassure our visitors. Whenever and if the circumstances change, we are there as it is required of us on a local level to offer support.
7. We are making deals for the new season with the information at hand. After all, due to time restraints we must make decisions now and prepare for 2016.
8. We are in direct and frequent communication with our partners. We alone can demonstrate the true extent of the situation and avoid dramatizations.
9. We continue on a daily basis to be in dialogue with the the relevant ministry for the resolution of our daily issues before they become problems.

We are Greece’s face to the world. Let’s take our place in the front pages of the international press for the right reasons. Let us once and for all leave this predicament behind us. Let’s show faith and love in what we the people of tourism do and know better: Greece. Let us not forget that the Greek economy is interdependent: every small piece of a productive Greece is a piece of the larger final product we call: Made in Greece.

Let’s protect it now that it needs it most.