TORONTO – Greece may be in a financial crisis, but travel experts say that the debt-ridden country’s economic woes haven’t scared off Canadian tourists.
In fact, a strong Canadian dollar paired with the Mediterranean country’s efforts to foster tourism during troubled times has made Greece an option for many of us who are planning summer getaways.
While riots and protesting has changed what was once a picture of beaches, island paradises and turquoise waters, Canadians are still curious about Greece.
Travel to the country from across Canada is still steadily booking, Allison Wallace, national spokeswoman for Flight Centre, told Global News.
She said vacation packages to the European nation are competitively priced.
“Mediterranean cruises are definitely up over last year by almost 10 per cent. Definitely we’re seeing some of the best pricing to Europe than we’ve seen in the past few years and Greece pricing is very good . . . in an attempt to draw tourism and have a strong summer,” she said in an email.
“There’s fantastic value for money travelling there this year,” she said.
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Marc Atchison, communications director for Tour East, said the travel agency has noticed an increase in queries about Greece. Half of the questions are about safety concerns while the other half are about potential savings tourists could take advantage of as Greece enters its typical peak tourism season from May to September.
“We’re advising people to stay away from any of the hotspots, primarily Athens, but as far as the islands go – absolutely no problem at all,” he said.
Atchison said Greek islands, such as Santorini, Mykonos and Ios are still popular choices for Canadian tourists.
Timothy Chan, of G Adventures, which offers group tours and independent travel options, echoed Atchison’s sentiments.
“We do feel that it is safe to travel to Greece as demonstrations are isolated and our tours avoid areas where they take place. In fact, it’s actually a great time to visit the country as prices there have come down making it more affordable for travellers,” he said.
A strong Canadian dollar also helps.
“We find ourselves in a far more advantageous position right now against other currencies but the euro still remains high,” he said.
Still, because economic troubles extend beyond Greece and have seeped into other parts of the continent, interest in tourism has “dried up” among residents in neighbouring countries.
“They’re reaching out to other places, such as Canada, by lowering prices,” Atchison said.
Cheapflights.com travel expert Emily Fisher says low ground costs help justify a trip to Greece.
“The main bargains right now are the resorts. Roundtrip airfares from Toronto to Athens are starting from $1,100, however when you search for flights and hotel together, you can find nightly rates at resorts on islands such as Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, for between $35 to $60 per night,” the website said in an email.
Venere.com, another online stop for booking hotels, bed and breakfasts and apartments across Greece shows options for as cheap as $30 a night.
Canadians planning a trip can sift through options according to star rating, budget and location.
Ian Lee, an economics professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, says tourism will be an export Greece will focus on in its recovery and offer “bargain basement” prices to tourists.
“If Greece returns to the drachma, it is widely accepted it will depreciate by perhaps 50 per cent. That would make it extremely cheap for Canadians,” he said.
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