‘Holiday poverty’ spreads across Europe

• Holiday poverty, a term coined by labour unions, is increasingly affecting Europeans, as rising costs make traditional summer breaks unaffordable.
• Despite Greece's booming tourism industry, which expects foreign arrivals to be up to four times the country's population, many Greeks are unable to afford holidays.
• European Union data shows that almost half of Greeks could not afford a one-week holiday in 2024, the second-highest rate in the bloc after Romania.
• This disparity is driven by surging prices and slow wage growth, forcing many Greeks to resort to day trips, packing their own food, and using public transport instead of traditional vacations.
• Similar concerns are emerging across Europe, with Italian beachgoers, for instance, complaining about soaring prices for basic amenities like sun loungers and umbrellas.

IN FULL

Millions of tourists head to Greece for their holidays. Greeks are staying at home