It has almost been two years since my last post, and I do apologize to the few followers of the Athens Key for doing so. An easy excuse could be that the pandemic and the introvert disposition that came along with it took away my determination to communicate with you. Another is that the small response that I get from these posts discourage me from attempting it, as if everything is in vein.
I thought, however, to let you know that last year was a record year for tourism in Greece, and 2023 is predicted to be even better. It seems that millions of travelers from all over the world, regardless of the corona virus risks still around us, and the global economic turbulence, took a leap of faith and came to Greece to enjoy the history and culture but also the sun and the sea in abundance to our beloved country.
A great number of these tourists come to Greece with the reverence of a pilgrim, needing to experience first hand the atmosphere and meet the descendants of the land that gave birth to the fundamental values of the western civilization as we came to know it.
Others, though, come to simply have a good time, indifferent to the lives and culture of the locals, often behaving in ways that the laws and values of their home countries do not allow them. They think that the tolerance of the authorities and the good nature of the locals give them the right to provoke, violently argue among themselves and with others in bars and public places, destroy public or private property, etc.
Fortunately, most of these ugly incidents happen in specific islands, such as in Crete, Rhodes or Zakynthos, and in specific areas, promoted by unscrupulous travel agents as cheap and safe heavens. As a result, these places get a bad reputation for the rest of the tourists but also for the Greek vacationers who might otherwise visit them, enjoy them, and contribute to the local economy.
These immature hooligans are not necessarily bad people. They were never taught respect, and totally lack social responsibility or civic behavior. Sooner or later they will repeat this disgraceful demeanor in their home countries. And when they do, they will be treated as criminals, with harsh punishment that may affect the rest of their lives. It would have been so much better, if we were to educate people from a render and receptive age the basic principles of our great world, based on mutual respect and social responsibility. Let us all try to do our part in inspiring them towards the right direction!
I thought, however, to let you know that last year was a record year for tourism in Greece, and 2023 is predicted to be even better. It seems that millions of travelers from all over the world, regardless of the corona virus risks still around us, and the global economic turbulence, took a leap of faith and came to Greece to enjoy the history and culture but also the sun and the sea in abundance to our beloved country.
A great number of these tourists come to Greece with the reverence of a pilgrim, needing to experience first hand the atmosphere and meet the descendants of the land that gave birth to the fundamental values of the western civilization as we came to know it.
Others, though, come to simply have a good time, indifferent to the lives and culture of the locals, often behaving in ways that the laws and values of their home countries do not allow them. They think that the tolerance of the authorities and the good nature of the locals give them the right to provoke, violently argue among themselves and with others in bars and public places, destroy public or private property, etc.
Fortunately, most of these ugly incidents happen in specific islands, such as in Crete, Rhodes or Zakynthos, and in specific areas, promoted by unscrupulous travel agents as cheap and safe heavens. As a result, these places get a bad reputation for the rest of the tourists but also for the Greek vacationers who might otherwise visit them, enjoy them, and contribute to the local economy.
These immature hooligans are not necessarily bad people. They were never taught respect, and totally lack social responsibility or civic behavior. Sooner or later they will repeat this disgraceful demeanor in their home countries. And when they do, they will be treated as criminals, with harsh punishment that may affect the rest of their lives. It would have been so much better, if we were to educate people from a render and receptive age the basic principles of our great world, based on mutual respect and social responsibility. Let us all try to do our part in inspiring them towards the right direction!