Workers in the Greek tourism industry say they are at breaking point, straining under long hours, low wages and not enough colleagues to cover the work.

They are planning protests this week to make their feelings – and demands – heard.

“We are asking for an increase of 12% for the next two years, that is 6% for each year. We are also asking – in 2024 – that the 5-day/40-hour working week also be applied to us,” Giorgos Hotzoglou, President of the Hellenic Federation of Tourism Employees, explains.

Workers can barely survive on their current wages, he says, as they don’t track with inflation.

Public services like water and waste management are also struggling to cope with the added strain of visitors.

Tourists arriving in Greece will be targeted during the protests, with workers handing out leaflets explaining their plight at airports, ports and archaeological sites.

Greece’s tourism is not growing as fast as similar countries

A recent survey by PwC shows that although there has been an increase in the number of tourists arriving in Greece this year, the country’s tourism sector is not growing as fast as in other Mediterranean countries.

“Mediterranean and the Balkan countries as a whole are increasing their share of the international tourism market, which means that tourists prefer this region for their holidays. Looking at our country, compared to other countries, it seems that our share is growing, but not at the same speed,” explains Leonidas Papaioannou, a partner at PwC Greece.

Greece is more than just sea and sun

Greece’s tourism officials say there’s much to discover in Greece beyond Santorini, the island that is ever popular with holidaymakers seking the perfect Instagram snap.

Greece has long been committed to promoting sustainable tourism and tackling the environmental impact of travel.

But for the country, sustainability means more than just preserving its world-famous landscapes. Experts say a different and more comprehensive approach is needed.

“We need to offer experiences that go beyond the traditional “sun and sea” concept, where we currently dominate as an international brand. We also need to enhance our infrastructure and human resources,” says Alexandros Thanou, Director of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

Extending the travel season into autumn and winter and promoting the beauty of mountainous Greece are among the main goals of the tourism industry over the coming years.

If you’ve searched for a Eurostar train between the UK and its hubs in mainland Europe, you might have noticed that prices are not cheap..

Fares from London to Paris, Lille, Brussels and Amsterdam can often cost upwards of €200 each way, especially at late notice.

That means that more people are opting to fly – a far less climate-friendly option – as budget airlines offer trips for significantly less and with more frequency.

In a bid to attract more customers, Eurostar has brought back a concept which last ran on-and-off from 2016 to 2019 – ‘Snap’ tickets.

It’s a scheme which will make sure trains are fuller, without pushing existing customers off the services.

Passengers who are able to travel last minute will benefit from significantly reduced fares. Currently, a return from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord at the end of October will cost from £90 (€108), as opposed to £378 (€455), if you were to travel to the French capital this weekend.

“Snap has been a customer favourite, and we’re thrilled to bring it back year-round, offering a smart solution for travellers who can be flexible with their schedules,” François Le Doze, chief commercial officer at Eurostar, said.

“It’s a smart way to travel, ensuring no seat goes unused – a win for our customers, a win for Eurostar, and a win for the planet.”

What are the conditions for using Eurostar Snap?

With such relatively low fares, Snap unsurprisingly comes with strings attached.

While passengers are able to choose specific days of travel, they’ll only find out 48 hours before departure exactly which train they’re booked on.

That means you could be travelling any time between 05:40 am and 20:40 pm, meaning day trips are probably not feasible.

Snap trains can only be booked from 14 days before travel and up to the day before you leave, so that rather excludes people who like to book trips far in advance.

If you’re the kind of traveller that needs to be with your group, this scheme might not be for you, as Eurostar warns that groups may find their seats split up.

There’s also very little flexibility with Snap.

“Just so you know, once you’ve booked with Eurostar Snap, you won’t be able to exchange your ticket, cancel it or transfer any of the tickets to anyone else if one of your friends can no longer make it,” a statement on the website says.

In the 2016 to 2019 iteration of Snap, passengers could choose between morning and afternoon/evening departures, which is not possible now.

One-way fares were also as low as £19 (€23) one way – half what the lowest ticket will set you back now.

Eurostar prices are in general more expensive than they were pre-pandemic, though, and the company’s promise that “up to 50 per cent off the price of a standard ticket when booked a week before departure” holds up in the current financial climate.

There is one significant improvement on the 2016 to 2019 version of Snap.

The current scheme extends to Amsterdam – on the outward leg at least.

Eurostar’s current operating system means that, on your return from the Dutch capital, you’ll have to change trains in Brussels – although that applies for all bookings, not just those made via Snap.

Prague is banning organised bar crawls in its ongoing mission to crack down on rowdy tourists.

The Czech capital will no longer allow guided bar-hopping to take place between 10pm and 6am, local officials announced on Monday.

The move is likely to be a major blow to tour operators who rely on Prague’s reputation as a party city, including one that claimed to offer ‘Europe’s biggest pub crawl’.

It is hoped the ban will reduce nighttime disturbance, contribute to cleaner streets and improve the city’s reputation among locals, tourists and investors, Czech news agency České Noviny reports.

The news comes just weeks after the Czech government announced plans to clamp down on short-term holiday rentals to curb high rent prices and housing shortages in tourist hotspots.

Czechia’s tourist crackdown extends to Airbnb-style rentals

Following the lead of cities like London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris, Czechia is restricting Airbnb-style rentals.

A draft bill approved by the Czech government in August would allow municipalities and cities to limit the amount of Airbnb-style accommodation available.

It is hoped the move will bring down real estate prices and ensure residents are not forced out by tourists in popular cities like Prague.

This could include capping the number of days a property can be rented out per year, as well as defining a minimum amount of space required per guest.

It would also place stricter regulations and relevant local taxes on guesthouses, Airbnbs and other holiday rentals, bringing their obligations in line with traditional hotels.

Property owners would be required to register accommodation and guest details via a new platform called eTurista. A registration number for the property will be provided, which must be displayed on accommodation listings.

If approved, it is hoped the new system will help to increase oversight of short-term rentals, many of which currently operate in a grey area.

Currently, officials estimate that between 40 to 70 per cent of stays via online platforms are not reported, which could lead to almost €32 million in lost taxes annually.

The new rules could come into force in July 2025.

How else is Prague cracking down on tourists?

As well as keeping tabs on rental accommodation, the new rules intend to limit the number of tourist apartments in city centres – reducing noise disturbance in the process.

In Prague in particular, rowdy tourists are driving locals out of the capital’s historic Old Town. The Airbnb crackdown has therefore been welcomed by district councillors.

It won’t be their first attempt to rein in noisy visitors. Earlier this year, one district council proposed a ban on outlandish costumes worn by stag and hen parties, which it said encourage drunk and rowdy behaviour in Prague’s popular nightlife district.

Some councillors suggested that “socially unacceptable” attire was contributing to nighttime noise and unruliness, particularly on organised pub crawls.

A previous plea by the city district to limit business opening hours in the city centre was rejected last year.

However, a ban on cars entering part of the Old Town at night was approved in July to reduce noise in the area. It prevents vehicles from entering the historic district between 10pm and 6am.