The Greek island of Crete meets the Bankruptcy of Thomas Cook was especially hard. The tourism group dominated the business, the Hoteliers fear a loss in the millions. DW-reporter Susan Bonney-Cox was spot on.
Wednesday morning, Greece’s second-largest airport, Heraklion. On normal days he resembles an experimental arrangement of the chaos theory: Huge queues in the check-in halls, crowds of people, wishing to check in or the security control to wait.
On this Wednesday, a different picture emerges. It is relatively quiet. New to the Check-in area of the civilian flight attendants, has sent the UK government. They are easily identified by their yellow vests to. They are available to advise travellers that want to fly back to the UK. Also staff of the ground staff ensure that the passengers will be helped.
The British government will bring an estimated 150,000 stranded tourists from all over the world. It is the largest civilian return action in time of peace.
At the airport, British Serenity reigns
The tourists in the queue are astonishingly relaxed and on the question of how you dealt with the news of Thomas Cook-Broke, show British Composure: “What good is it to Worry about,” sighed a lady from Birmingham and added: “We can’t change anything.” Your friend says, “We promised each other to not Worry, because we knew that we would come home, one way or the other. The Only thing we’ve been doing since Monday, is to check the Internet to stay up-to-date.”
As you know, this report is intended for the German wave, lift a song of praise to the Federal government, the Condor, one of the German subsidiaries of Thomas Cook, will assist with a bridging loan in the amount of 375 million euros. You don’t complain in the same breath, that the British government, Thomas Cook does the same thing. The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the British government should not help Thomas Cook to get out of trouble, and argued that this would create a “moral hazard” because other companies could expect in the future a similar treatment. The two ladies give me on the way that they are not supporters of Brexit. An essential factor for the demise of Thomas Cook .
Be home soon – these stranded tourists on the island of Crete remain calm.
A family Chester draws for the consequences. In the future, you want to book only flights with renowned airlines and Hotel online booking. Package tours of the past.
Everything as usual
I question the Management of the airport of Heraklion. A change in day-to-day business is still not noticeable, they say. The British government immediately civilian flight attendants deployed, which took care of the stranded tourists, so the airport had to deploy no additional staff. Also a decline in passenger numbers or flights showed the Management peace of mind: “The season officially ends at the 20. November. And, we strongly hope that in the next year, other tourism providers will fill the gap left by the Bankruptcy of Thomas Cook.”
A gaping Void at the counters of Thomas Cook
Only a few of the Thomas Cook staff are to be seen this Wednesday on the switches. You tell me that you are since Monday, 24 hours a day, to ensure that holidaymakers come home. In a further conversation with the press they are not interested.
Hope for the coming year
On the island of Crete, the Hotels under the Thomas Cook suffering especially-Broke. The President of the hotel Association of Crete, Nikos Chalkiadakis, estimates that in the coming days, with 26 Hotels in Crete and 48 in Greece overall have to be closed. All exclusive Thomas Cook Hotels. “This is a massive blow as bad as the financial crisis a few years ago.”
Nicos Chalkiadakis, Hotelier and Chairman of the hotel Association of Crete hopes to have the support of the government
The hope is that the disaster could be averted, was in vain. Thomas Cook has since the age of 15. July 2019 not a single one of its contracted hotels paid more. Even if the hotel manages to sell the empty rooms to the other operators, the losses are immense.
The 54-year-old Chalkiadakis operates five Hotels in the coastal village of Stalis on the North coast of Crete, about 25 kilometres from Heraklion. “The impact on my company will be significant because Thomas Cook owes me approximately 650,000 euros.And I’m afraid I’m going to see this money never again.” He constantly takes calls on his cell phone, which is always within reach. Because he is head of a Delegation that tried to negotiate with the Greek government about aid for the ailing hotel companies.
Also Chalkiadakis is convinced that there is until the next year, many new prospective customers, Thomas Cook are to replace. The Hoteliers now hope on the government in Athens. To an exemption from VAT and other tax and social insurance payments to keep their operations alive and to save jobs.
No trace of the crisis – holiday in Crete, enjoying the sun, Sand and sea
Luck in the misfortune: The holiday season comes to an end
A short walk from Chalkiadakis‘ the Hotel and on the beach. Everything here is, at first glance, as always, people enjoy their holidays. In a small hut Stephanos boat sold and paragliding excursions. Revenue loss he had suffered none. “Fortunately, the season is almost over, and I’ve reached my targets for the year already. Next year, it could be difficult if there are less tourists come.” The crisis will go away faster noticeable. “If Hotels have to close, then the whole infrastructure will suffer. The food producers, the farmers, to the Laundry and dry – cleaning service providers, all will need to reduce staff.”
Waiting for tourists – the coming year will show how big the damage really is
A walk through of Stalis, it is obvious that the small village lives by the sea and from tourism. At the beach, Boulevard, Bars and Restaurants waiting for customers. You use mainly German and British holidaymakers. As the “Rover’s Return Pub”, the Kostas with his wife, operates in the British style. “There are already significantly fewer visitors. Next year, I must invent, perhaps, my business and my target audience is new”.