A statement issued by the Greek Ministry for Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism says: “We would like inform visitors to Greece that capital controls introduced by the Greek Government do not apply to those wishing to withdraw money from an ATM or carry out any other type of transaction using credit or debit cards issued abroad.
“Moreover, the Ministry does not anticipate any inconvenience in a visitor’s everyday holiday experiences, either in the islands or in mainland Greece, as there are adequate fuel supplies, products and services.
“Greece continues to offer the highest quality of tourism services to its visitors, who have ranked Greece as one of the best holiday destinations worldwide.
“The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Elena Kountoura, as a member of the Greek Government, said that Greece still is and will always be a favourite destination for holidaymakers. Visitors currently in Greece as well as people planning to visit Greece will not be affected by the latest developments and they can continue to enjoy their holiday in Greece without any problems whatsoever.”
Pat Dawson, Chief Executive, Irish Travel Agents Association, said: “We would advise anyone heading to Greece to take plenty of cash with them. Ensure you have more than one means of payment with you including cash and credit cards. At the very least make sure you have enough money to cover emergencies and any unforeseen circumstances. We would also encourage holidaymakers to take appropriate security precautions against theft.
“We are advising holiday makers to be prepared and ensure that you budget carefully, taking enough cash to see you through your holiday. Once you arrive in Greece, use safes and deposit boxes to store cash and split money between family members so that no individual is carrying too much around with them. By planning ahead, holidaymakers can have a worry-free holiday.”
If Greece does leave the euro zone, the euro will continue to be the country’s legal tender for some time to come.
