Unprecedented measures on the islands: The reason we may pay for this year's record tourism

This year can be described as a landmark year for Greek tourism, as —as confirmed by Kyriakos Mitsotakis—Fraport’s data already show that we have surpassed the number of arrivals recorded in 2019. What the prime minister did not mention, however, is that this record comes with a potential cost that could backfire.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis made his remarks from Kefalonia, which has traditionally been one of the most popular destinations for the famous «Greek summer»—which, of course, is blessed with many such destinations. The prime minister referred to the need for infrastructure projects, such as modern highways, but the truth is that modernizing infrastructure is just one of the factors that will ensure we receive… positive reviews from millions of visitors.

After all, almost All those who rush to spend their vacations in Greece don’t do so because they expect to find the roads and organization of… Switzerland! They do this because this place is blessed with countless areas of unparalleled natural beauty and—in addition—because it embodies the famous «Greek filoxenia.» A term that is defined not only by… filotimo but also by the high standard of the services provided.

This is because, while we may often hear and read about rude shopkeepers, overcharging, and other such issues, the truth is that this situation is not the norm. On the contrary, the service is usually satisfactory (to say the least), which is due to the fact that, after decades, management and staffing are handled by professionals in the field, in almost every position.

Young people working in tourism are now graduates of relevant programs (e.g., culinary arts), combining their existing experience in tourism with their education, and subsequently go on to fill key positions in businesses, whether in the food service sector (restaurants, taverns, cafes, bars, etc.) or in lodging and hospitality facilities.

And this is precisely where the huge problem arises—one that seems to be more acute this year than ever before. The working conditions these people… We all know that during the summer months, things are particularly tough for them. Starting with where they’ll stay (very often, even… shipping containers are used) and extending to their work schedules. It’s generally assumed (and a given) that «work hours» is a foreign concept or is described as… “whenever it’s done,” while days off are rarer than ever and practically an endangered species.

A friend in Lefkada «managed» to get his first (and perhaps only) day off of the entire season at the end of July, after 50 consecutive days of work at a water sports business. After 50 days of—literally—rowing from sunrise to sunset out at sea. Another set off for Tinos to work at a hotel, with the owner making it clear to him (in a friendly tone, no less) that IF HE NEEDED a day off «well, we’ll figure something out—we’re not going to let you die on the job!»

For years now, these two realities have been the truth behind the glittering «Greek summer,» except that this year, for the first time, we’re seeing so many workers who simply can’t take it anymore and quit in the middle of the season, realizing too late that it just doesn’t add up, to put it simply and clearly.

The conditions they face and under which they are required to work are unbearable, even for young people, who no longer hesitate to either quit and return home or seek a «transfer» in the middle of the season, looking for something better. The problem is that their positions aren’t filled by other professionals in the field, but often by the owners themselves and their family members, as if we were talking about situations from the 1960s when everything still had a folkloric character.

It is obvious that this situation means the quality of the services provided will be lower, a fact that will sooner or later lead to dissatisfaction, which will become apparent over time. After all, for years now, Greece has not been the only player in the region’s tourism market, as competitors have emerged from all directions—with the Turkish beaches and the Dalmatian coast being just a few examples.

Also noteworthy (and not unrelated to what is described above) is the fact that all of this is happening at a time when the data for June 2022 show that Greece, with a rate of 29.7%, has the highest unemployment rate among all European Union countries. The message is clear. Unless the current status quo changes and labor relations are improved (for the benefit of both employers and employees), this year’s season will not serve as a promotion but rather as a blow to our tourism industry.