Editorials

GREECE NEEDS TO ...

17/12/12 12:07 Filed in: My Ideas | Greece
Start Charging Full Retail

Greece has some of the best beaches in the world. I thought Australia did. 

Then, as an Ansett refugee found myself flying an A320 into Zakinthos, broke through cloud and realised I has been conned. Crystal clear waters, lapping white sand, with tiny ports with cafes right to the water's edge.  (My dream of Albert Park when the seas rise ...)

It's not only me that has been conned.

It's the Greeks. They make every Greek boy do national service, and teach them how to use guns for 18 months, (it may be 9 months now).

The industries —textiles, clothing, footwear, manufacturing— have all gone. Just tourism six months a year. The boys are chucked back on the streets, educated in violence and unemployed.
After six months work on the islands, the money runs out around December. It's cold in Athens, and every year they set fire to a few cars and protest.

How smart is it to train people in violence and then let them starve? I joke that they are angry ‘cos they can't afford to buy their Mums’ Christmas presents. But it's not far from reality.

Greece needs to recognise that it’s a six-month country. Just like Mt.Buller, Falls Creek and any other snowfield, (until mountain biking came along), the Greek Islands only work half the year, during the summer. 

They have to start charging accordingly, knowing that the income has to tide them over all year.

We were flying plane loads of U.K. passengers to the islands who pay —wait for it— only 400 pounds for a week, airfare and accommodation included!

There needs to be a realistic entry fee added to ALL Greek Islands; say 50 Euros a day per person. Maybe more. There are over 21 million tourists annually.*

Taxes on businesses have to be reduced to make doing business worth it. A colleague’s family driving school (started in Crete) have had to close their Athens branch. It wasn’t worth keeping the doors open.

As for personal income taxes, Greeks have a long term aversion to paying tax. It’s why there are thousands of blue and white domed ‘churches’ in back yards on Santorini. A Church is tax-free.


The money raised from my scheme should be put into a fund, and divided-up amongst those who can prove they have worked in the tourism sector, paid a net hourly, after tax rate, for their efforts in a lump sum at the end of the season.

Greeks also need to concentrate on new technologies — making solar street lights would be a good start— using the labour available during the off-season.

Paul Keating was wrong, there never was a level playing field —not when you are trying to support the infrastructure of the many islands— having a squadron of ferries and jets ready for the April-September rush; providing all those docks and international airports, lighting the lights, supplying the water, removing the rubbish and processing the poo.

Scared of other tourist destinations stealing their clientele? Maybe, for the first year or two.

But a holiday in risky Sharm El Sheikh, the super-expensive Seychelles, or alcohol-free Maldives will only reinforce what we all know.

The world’s tourists love visiting Greece, and some of the best beaches on the planet.

They can start by putting their ‘money on the fridge’.



*In 2018 this figure rose to 28.7 million tourists.

Originally posted on December 17th, 2012.

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