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[kurupetos]

Shameful scenes. An embarrassment to all Brits.

The problem started many years ago, when Disraeli became your PM. His plan was a multicultural UK. The process is almost complete.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Greek resorts consider special tourist zones after Briton's murder ( - by British tourist )



The murder of a British tourist on Crete has spurred Greek authorities to consider setting up special zones for rowdy holidaymakers visiting the island.

The novel idea will be discussed when mayors of the party resorts of Zakynthos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Kos hold a mini-summit in Athens later this year. Senior officials from the tourism ministry, public order ministry and British embassy are expected to attend.

This year the British ambassador to Athens, John Kittmer, launched a campaign in Malia aimed at promoting "responsible behaviour". Posters, wristbands, fliers and beermats distributed in bars and hotels warn of the dangers of recklessness and overdrinking.

The idea of creating special zones where young tourists could live takes the drive to rein in bad behaviour a step further. The alcohol-fuelled antics of young holidaymakers have increasingly incensed locals in Malia. Under new urban planning laws currently being discussed, clubs, discos, bars and custom-made quad-bike racecourses would all be hosted in a closely monitored strip away from the town.

"Greece can't go on being a playground for everyone to live out his or her desire," Doxastakis told the Guardian. "During the day they are lovely kids but at night when they drink they become other people. In these zones they would be able to do whatever they like … people here are protesting, they want local authorities to take action. They have had enough."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/ju ... rist-zones

[Zarlak]

Please don't consider all Brits to be like this. There are unruly people from all cultures.

If you take Cyprus as an example, over 50% of their tourists come from Britain, so you may think that all Brits are like this because it's always Brits causing trouble but that's only because everybody there is a Brit. When 1 million Brits visit and the next largest is 150,000 Russians, the perception is skewed. If 1 million Russians visited and only 150,000 Brits then you'd think that Russia had a serious problem with their kids because the sheer number of them arriving, would make it look like that.

Alcohol and 1 million people a year from any country don't mix well. There are some good people from my country.

[Sotos]

Please don't consider all Brits to be like this. There are unruly people from all cultures.

If you take Cyprus as an example, over 50% of their tourists come from Britain, so you may think that all Brits are like this because it's always Brits causing trouble but that's only because everybody there is a Brit. When 1 million Brits visit and the next largest is 150,000 Russians, the perception is skewed. If 1 million Russians visited and only 150,000 Brits then you'd think that Russia had a serious problem with their kids because the sheer number of them arriving, would make it look like that.

Alcohol and 1 million people a year from any country don't mix well. There are some good people from my country.

I agree. And it is also about what kind of tourists you target. When you have places like Ayia Napa which target youngsters offering them cheap accommodation, wild parties and alcohol (to say the least) then you can't complain when such things happen. If you don't want such kind of tourists then simply close down the places that attract them and develop different kind of tourism ... like golf courses for old wealthy people or religious tourism etc... those tourists are unlikely to create such problems no matter where they come from!

[Zarlak]

Exactly. And it's not that Brits are awful people, it's that there are 10x as many Brits as anybody else over there. Which is why you think it's always Brits. Like I said if the numbers were reversed and it was 1 million Germans over there and 150,000 Brits, then people would think that Germans were awful people.

1 million of anybody in an environment designed to get people really drunk for next to nothing, is going to cause trouble.

[GreekIslandGirl]

The responses on the thread have been very fair so far. But as the mayor and coroner identified, such alcohol-fueled killings seem endemic to the British tourists and we have to accept that Crete has a greater diversity of tourists than Cyprus has. Despite the greater diversity, it's back to the Brits causing problems. Not Germans.

It does appear to be a British problem and hopefully the British Ambassador will offer some solutions ...

(It is very embarrassing for Brits and understandable that they wish to distance themselves from these problems.)

[Zarlak]

That is simply because the sheer number of British tourists outnumber the visitors you have from anywhere else.

I have met some awfully disgusting and rude Greeks, but I would never say that just because most of the Greeks I have met are rude, that they all are. It's all a perception because the majority are Brits, therefore if something bad happens the odds are higher that it was a Brit.

If the majority of visitors were 10x the amount of Germans than anybody else, then the odds are in favour of the Germans causing trouble.

It's simple maths.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Rudeness is nothing. Drinking and killing is a definite "no no".

I'll go with what the Cretan locals have to say and if this phenomenon is only associated with British tourists, no amount of argument will change it.

Drink less ...

[Paphitis]

Rudeness is nothing. Drinking and killing is a definite "no no".

I'll go with what the Cretan locals have to say and if this phenomenon is only associated with British tourists, no amount of argument will change it.

Drink less ...

Yes too true!

However, our friend Zarlak is correct.

But I would say that our friends in Crete (Greece) should be concerned about this also:

CRIME: You should take the usual safety precautions you would in any urban or tourist area during a visit to Greece. Crimes against tourists (such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching) occur at popular tourist sites and on public transportation - especially the Metro - and in some shopping areas in and around Thessaloniki. If you travel by Metro, keep track of your purse/backpack/wallet at all times. Thieves will often try to create a diversion to draw your attention away from your immediate surroundings. These diversions can include accidentally sneezing or spilling something on you and loudly accusing you of having bumped into them. Thieves ride the trains in from the Athens Airport, so be especially careful when you first arrive. You may be tired and a bit disoriented and you may have just visited the ATM or exchanged money. Be discreet when discussing plans and organizing your belongings upon your initial arrival. Always keep a close eye on your suitcase. Try to avoid standing near the doors, as thieves will often wait to strike just as the train/bus doors open and then dash onto the platform and disappear into the crowd. Omonia, Vathi, and Kolokotroni Squares in Athens, while very close to the tourist sites, are areas with high crime rates; Glyfada Square has a significant organized-crime network associated with its clubs, which should be avoided if you get a hard-sell pitch for business. Never agree to go to a bar or club with someone you have just met on the street. Sexual assaults of U.S. citizens, including date or acquaintance rape, are not uncommon. Drink alcohol in moderation and stay in control. Never leave your drink unattended in a bar or club. Some bars and clubs serve counterfeit or homemade spirits of unknown potency.

Dont buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even those widely available, along the sidewalks in Central Athens or Thessaloniki. Not only are these goods illegal to bring back into the United States, the purchase of bootlegs and knock-offs in Greece violates Greek law.

Due to an increase of card skimming at ATMs throughout Greece it is recommended that you use one located inside a bank or hotel. Do not use ATMs located in dark or isolated areas. Before using an ATM, check to see if anything is stuck to the machine and/or if it looks unusual in any way. When using an ATM, always stay focused on what you are doing, and cover the keypad with your free hand to prevent anyone from seeing your PIN.

Source: US State Department

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_t ... _1127.html

[GreekIslandGirl]

I'm not a US citizen. US citizens are targeted wherever they go - and no one doubts that the ever-growing number of illegal immigrants on European streets (Lyon is the worst I've seen) are not behind increasing crime rates .

Even crimes such as these are on the increase ...

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