jamesnixon.com
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GREECE NEEDS TO ...
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 thru 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 - teach them how to use guns for 18 months (it may be 12 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 now 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 its a six-month country. Just like Mt.Buller, Falls Creek and any other snowfield, 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 UK passengers to the islands who pay - wait for it - 400 pounds for a week - including airfare and accommodation!
There needs to be a realistic entry fee added to ALL Greek Islands; say 50 Euros a day per person. Maybe more. There are about 380,00 beds sold every night in summer, over 60 million annually.
Taxes on businesses have to be reduced to make business worth it. A colleague’s family driving school (started in Crete) have had to close their Athens branch - it's not worth keeping the doors open.
Greeks 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.
The world’s tourists love visiting Greece ... they can start by putting the "money on the fridge".
December 2012
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