Greece gets too much Publicity

There is an old adage that says there is no such thing as bad publicity. Complete horsefeathers. Bad publicity can damage as long as the subject is in the media spotlight. Greece is a good example. For much of the last few weeks the economic situation has made the newspapers and TV news. Strikes, principally in Athens, have filled TV screens and, as a result, the number of us going to Greece has dropped.
Is this fair? Are we so concerned that when we see a demonstration in one place we assume the whole country is affected? When we see an incident do we assume it lasts for weeks?
According to Co-op Travel, 130,000 bookings last week were analysed and found that the number of bookings to Greece had dropped significantly. However bookings to Spain and Portugal – rival hotspots for summer holidays – had risen and those to Malta had jumped. At this time of the year, says the Co-op, bookings to Greece should run at about 16% of all bookings. Not this year or not yet at any rate. Why? Because it seems we are fickle and easily swayed by what we see and read.
The demonstrations in Greece have largely been away from the islands which is where Britons and Irish go. The same problems that arise almost every year in Greece will probably arise again such as ferry crossing delays but apart from that, much of Greece will remain the same. Warm, inviting and plenty of opportunities for enjoyment. By the time a holiday starts, the demonstrations and general strike could be a thing of the past but we visitors don’t see it that way. All we seem to see is a news story and thus we say forget Greece this year. To the Greeks it must see so unfair especially as they could do with almost every visitor they can find.
For those of you unperturbed at the exaggeration, watch out for some bargains as travel agents persuade us, correctly, that all is fine most of the time.