希腊暴力示威 游客望而却步

After a series of violent protests and strikes in Athens, Greece, tourism officials in the country say Greece is still a great destination for a family vacation. Angela Gerekou is the Greek Tourism Minister.

"Athens is safe as usual, the life is going on as usual. Our islands already, they already have citizens from other countries, they are passing a really great time."

Just six days ago, tens of thousands protested in Athens in a demonstration that erupted into violence in the city's streets. Those pictures seen around the world scared some tourists from traveling to Greece. Andreas Andriadis is the President of the Greek Hoteliers Association.

"We had a few cancellations, mainly in Athens, for the next coming days, very few in the islands. You know, people today are very well informed, they know exactly what is happening, they know the rest of Greece is very safe."

Recent strikes have also caused disruptions for tourists --at the Athens Airport where flights were canceled for 24 hours and at the busy port where some cruise ships and passenger ferries to the islands had to cancel their planned trips. But tourists have come to Athens despite the disruptions.

"We weren't concerned at all because we were here in 2006 and students were rioting then, so we didn't think there would be a problem for us to come."

"We were concerned but we were certainly assured by the cruise line that it would not affect us. But most of the people are rioting against the government not the tourists. I would expect they need the tourists."

Tourism is the top income earner in Greece accounting for 18 percent of Greece's 240-billion-euro economy. Tourism officials in the country are expecting a decline in revenues this year but they hope foreign demand could prove key to hauling the country out of its debt crisis.