What is your experience with the British tourists in e.g. Rhodes, Corfu or Crete in Greece?

Question

Much has been said about Greece or Spain with respect to the violent behavior of certain British youngsters visiting Greece or Spain. It is interesting that recently, hundreds from the town of Malia in Crete have taken to the streets to protest against the lewd and violent behavior of young British tourists, closing off the island's main highway, disrupting traffic and handing out leaflets saying they were fed up.

For more on this:
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1120798.php?mpnlog=1

What's your experience? Who is to blame and is there any way out of this mess?

Answer 1

British tourists behave appallingly, but the Greek authorities on Crete cannot command respect while they fail to apologise for torturing foreigners , for example, my partner Necati who was among 164 victims and was also a victim of a savage rape by aq Coastguard called Dandoulakis. It has taken 6 years to get this far, and, despite a guilty verdict, the officers responsible have escaped with a paltry fine and remain in uniform. Admittedly they are scapegoats for a corrupt and evil system, but they still share some responsibility. The lies they told, however are echoed throughout the Greek administration and it is to the credit of the Greek Ombudsman that it has now recorded the whol;e sorry saga as an affront to Greece's commitment to Human Rights, and a mockery of basic principles of civilized behaviour. There has been no apology from the government, no statement of non-recurrence and no offer of compensation. After considerable pressure was put on the Greek Government on our behalf by the British Foreign Office, we have finally received token legal papers and laughably translated englisg texts, that enable us to file with the ECHR. But while an EU state refuses to take responsibility for the actions of its troops, while torture contonues as a routine (recently exposed in videos taken by the police in Athens of their own violations! on Youtube), I cannot see that the Cretan community, however frustrated by the antics of British yobs who bite policemen, or Austrians who put the Greek flag down their trousers (both groups punished with greater speed and severity than was given to the men who beat and raped my partner)m can command any sympathy. (Unless, of course, the International audience remains ignorant of the brutish reality of life in Greece)
All best wishes,
TIM WILSON
NECATI ZONTUL

Answer 2

There are 2 kinds of British tourists: a. very cultured people who visit the monuments and Britain should be proud to have them. b. young people who come here to get drunk and do silly things. I really don't understand why they feel this urge, but it is a disgrace, and I think the only reason they do this is that they can and thet they will get away with it. I think the greek police should do something about it, but there is so many of them, that the local police cannot control the situation (recently one of these tourists bit off a policeman's ear). Plus in Greece we try to be hospitable. However, something must be done. Stop selling alcohol in those places, arresting people for causing trouble but not just keeping them in the police station till they sobre up, they should have to pay big time or stay in jail for the rest of their holidays. The problem is that the authorities don't want to do that, because then the thousands of tourists won't come here any more. However, they don't understand that these tourists deter good quality tourists from coming here. So drastic measures must be taken.

Answer 3

My personal opinion is that its our fault the Greeks. We brought this sort of tourism to our country. Why are Greek people selling cheap alcoholic drinks like (vodka scnapss, gin,rum and energy drink). I know how the bars work in places like Rhodes, Kos and Crete.

I go out in town and every bar I go they encourage binge drinking( challenges like how quick can you down a Smirnoff ice) and they always offer you some cheap free shot of alcohol which just makes you completely drunk and incapable of making a judgment, this alcohol must also have an affect on how you react and also gives a lot of confidence to do stupid things like throwing bottles at cars.

But its not only the Greeks fault, these young lager louts are noisy, loud, abusive and have no respect for anyone but them self's.

The opinion of British people has gone down over the past 5 years which is sad as I know the British are not like all these lager louts you find in Malia.

Greece why do the f**k do you allow companies like Club18-30 and Twenty's come to Greece and destroy this beautifully cultured and historical country?.

To add to Mr T.Wilson story, I am sorry about what happend to you partner. Greek police can be violent, but looking at you video on the web you are telling me that Greece has a corrupt system, WE DONT. We do have some abuse in the police force like any counry in the world like Britain, France ,Germany and many more countries. You partner is appalled when wathching the video and so I am, but please do not tell that Turkey has not got these preoblems because it has and its got some of the worse human rights in the world.
Maybe you partner should go back to Turkey and visit his Country Police Forces to see how they treat people.

Answer 4

Your question is a bit suspicion; I hope you are not a troll! Anyway your concerns are complete wrong, main tourist in Greece are UK people this alone should make you understand other way we would not have the most tourist been Brits. Americans are welcome and Greece is one of the saves countries in EU with the lowest criminal rate, neither terrorist attacks or whatever. In Athens there is plenty to do and all hotels have free travelers information on what to do, where to go in Athens, its up to you what you want to do! What you should not miss is of course visiting the Acropolis and the new museum & go to the old town of Athens Plaka!

Answer 5

British....I often wondered what makes them so violent! I guess it is the class separation in the UK! Look at the football hooligans...some years ago the British Government set up a force to control all the fans, banning the troublemakers to attend matches overseas! Maybe they should do the same with tourists!Education and values are probably to blame too and their sense of being superior to other nations. I have seen it many times and got harrassed by them too! I really feel sorry for the local people of Malia!
But elderly Brits are very nice and they make up for the bad behaviour of the younger generation. I remember when I lived in London that they trashed the local pub over and over again, so it seems that it is not only happening abroad! Shame on them!

Answer 6

I would briefly like to say my opinion from " the other side of the water"...

As far as I observed in our touristic towns and cities, some of the young British people don't know how to hold down their liqueur- like Americans say.

I have witnessed nice guys by the pool in the day time and the same guys turned into rude intoxicated guys who are too loud and disturbing and some times harassing at night.

In Turkey, sadly, there has been casualties because of this attitude.

I don't know how tolerable these kind of behaviors are in the UK but people have to feel the need of "fitting in the culture and life style" as much as possible where they go vacationing since they are guests otherwise they get out-casted.

Tourism and earning a living from it is one thing, bearing to rudeness that affects ones daily life is another.

Who is to blame... Maybe the relaxed culture of their nation or the more traditional of ours but in my opinion, the individual is here to blame because as human beings, we have the ability to observe and to fit in. If we didn't, we wouldn't be able to survive in this earth by being one of the most fragile creatures..

The way out is education and the ability to form an empathy. The way to achieve it if it is not already there... I don't know :)

Answer 7

I can only say this. Please pray for Greece and UK. These people are out of control and the governments of both countries don't seem to have the answer. Greece is such a wonderful place, it should not be subject to this type of moronic behaviour.
I live in the USA and am very happy to make frequent
excursions to Greece where the people are so civilized.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 8

It is a shame that people are changing their holiday destinations to avoid this, and it happens all the time.
Lets be clear; other 'nations' tend to impose their rule to, once they are at the same spot in sufficient numbers.. unfair towards the local hosts of course, and indeed not restricted to Greece.
Malia is particular; I have never been in and out a city in Greece so fast. If you want to go there, you must like it; I do not. If I want to start a business there, that is my choice, and most business there is set up by foreigners, not by Greeks anymore.. we all know why..
The answer to your question 'who is to blame' is to be found in UK, Germany, Holland & a number of new EU states that have joined us or will do soon.. a way out is a task for the European Parliament.. join forces and make rules of behavour with common ways of handling and if needed to interfere and punish.
Does not sound popular, but arrangements to coope with this situation is indeed asking for answers and solutions.

Answer 9

There is no question who is to blame:

It is the Brits that abuse drink and get pissed drunk and cause all shorts of trouble.

By the way, we expect no better from them anyway.

Our society is tolerant to liquor restrictions (alike W Europe and N America) because we are responsible individuals (most of us) and know what our limits are. That's why it is very difficult to see drunk Greeks walking in the streets throwing up and causing trouble, a common sight anywhere in UK.

I tent to believe that the problem is that in UK or N America due to liquor restrictions kids see it as a novelty and a trill.

So when they come to a country like Greece that booze is actually sold everywhere, they go nuts.

Answer 10

put them all to jail ;)