Safeguarding tourism

On the one hand data show that tourist arrivals to Greece have grown by 17.1 percent in the first half of 2014, while everyone is predicting that this upward trend will continue over the course of the year.

On the other hand, however, a marked absence of basic good taste continues to be coupled with frequent instances of behavior that is completely offputting, especially to foreign visitors to the country.

In the Monastiraki flea market in the heart of Athens, both private companies and public bodies have completely wrecked the area’s main square. And getting to Ancient Corinth is a feat that is only attempted by the most determined of tourists.

These are but two of many examples.

We like to talk about how tourism is Greece’s big moneymaker, its chief “industry,” and the sector on which we are pinning our hopes for growth. But for this sector to continue to thrive, we need to make sure that everyone behaves in a way that doesn’t mar the country’s image.