100,000 Tourists Reported Stranded in Greece
Tourism | July 30, 2010, Friday
Gas pipes rest idle at a gas station in Athens, Greece, on 27 July 2010 after Greek truck owners started a strike in protest against a draft bill to open up the road freight market. The strike caused serious shortages of fuel in the market. Photo by EPA
A total of 100,000 tourists from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Macedonia, who are traveling by car, remain stranded in northern Greece because of the lorry drivers strike, according to reports.
Tourist agents complain that the image of the country has been dealt a serious blow and nearly 10% of the bookings have been canceled over the last two days.
The report comes just a day after the Greek government used a rare emergency order to force lorry drivers back to work following a three-day strike.
The government issued a rare emergency order to the owners and drivers of the trucks to return to work Thursday, saying they face severe penalties - including being stripped of their licenses - if they don't.
The strike has caused gas stations in Athens to run out of fuel, stranding people around the country, including many Greeks who leave for August vacation.
Tags: Bulgaria, Russia, Serbia, Hellenic Hotels Federation, owners, drivers, trucks, lorry, greece
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