The Itinerary

Is Greece Safe? What Travelers Should Know

Posted Jul 1, 2015 2:30:00 PM in Travel Safety Advice by Amanda Hand

You may have read about Greece’s financial crisis in recent news. You may know the crisis is not only financial, but political as well. Those traveling to Greece may be wondering if Greece's Political State is Dangerous for Travelers. As the final decisions for the country’s financial solvency approach, tensions are rising. If the outcome is not in majority’s favor, riots could be a possibility.

USA Today's Tyler Pager claims the tourism industry in Greece will remain lucrative. 

"For international people going on vacation to Greece, there's absolutely no difficulty at the moment," said David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC. "Greece is always a very popular destination for Europeans and it's a good value-for-money destination. If there's going to be any difficulties, it will come slightly later in this process."

Greece's_Political_State_Is_Dangerous_For_Travelers

Even though Greece's tourism industry remains strong, American travelers have still been advised to travel with caution.

The American Embassy in Greece said, "The State Department recommends you maintain a high level of security awareness and avoid political rallies and demonstrations as instances of unrest can occur."

While the ATM limits of $67 per day do not apply to tourists using foreign debit or credit cards, some ATMs are still currently running out of cash. So tourists may want to securely carry the cash they may need on them, instead of looking to withdraw cash while traveling.

Even when a country is not experiencing any level of unrest, it is important to share your day to day itinerary with a close relative or friend and schedule a time to check in. This is especially true when traveling to a country that is in an unstable political or financial state. The higher the tension and financial strain in a country, the more likely for crime against tourists. Checking in is not only courteous to those who care for you, but also ensures a quicker response if you fall victim to any level of tragedy.

What travelers are also at risk for when traveling to Greece is financial insolvency of tour operators. Due to the country's economic hardships, it is possible tour operators within the country could go bankrupt. We have seen this before, and often times, travelers lose their prepaid expenses. Some travel insurance plans can cover these types of situations. 

A country’s political and civil state is always subject to change. We have seen this recently in the United States when riots broke out his past April. Even a country as beautiful as Greece is still susceptible to circumstances that could result in needing emergency assistance, such as a travel insurance plan. If the decisions made are not in favor of the majority, riots may break out and evacuation could become necessary. Travelers should be prepared for anything while Greece is in its fragile state. Read more on emergency evacuation while traveling here.

So if you're wondering if Greece's political state is dangerous for travelers, the answer may still be no. However, you should do your best to understand there are still risks, and do your best to plan for anything, both good and bad. 

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