Greek Tourism and Citizen Protection Ministries Prioritize Tourist Safety and Traffic Issues

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis.

Matters of public safety and the enhancement of police patrols, especially in Athens, were the subject of discussions between the Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, and her counterpart in the Ministry of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis.

These issues were addressed during a recent meeting between the two ministers, along with discussions on better management of the increasing number of visitors to the Greek capital city during the high tourist season.

Kefalogianni noted that with Athens having become a popular tourism destination on a year-round basis, it is now facing several issues regarding the safety of its visitors as well as its residents.

Specifically, the minister added that areas attracting large number of tourists require more police presence and she pinpointed the need for better traffic controls in the city, especially in the vicinity of most popular tourist sites.

Kefalogianni also asked for the cooperation of all involved, including the municipal authorities, to decide upon specified parking areas for tourist buses and vans in the city.

On his part, Chrysochoidis presented the plans of the Hellenic Police force and of the Greek Traffic Police concerning the safety and security as well as the better road access and movement of visitors, with the two ministers agreeing to keep on cooperating, as to face any problems that might arise in the future in any part of the country.