Greece holiday warning as tourists ‘barred’ from popular city

Greece is a popular tourist destination among Brits with many visiting the country’s beautiful islands, known for their amazing beaches and azure-blue waters. The country’s history is a major draw for visitors, too, and millions of tourists descend upon Greece’s capital Athens to see its famous landmarks, including the Acropolis.

But holidaymakers have been warned that tourism is under ‘threat’ due to ‘successive heatwaves’. The country has already experienced scorching heat waves this summer, with attractions including the Acropolis being temporarily closed off to visitors in June.

Now experts have warned that the extreme weather is having an impact on tourism in Athens. Local news site ekathimerini.com reports that a hotel owner has noticed that holidaymakers are limited due to the baking conditions.

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It said: “As a veteran hotel owner observes, when temperatures reach 36 degrees Celsius or more day after day, visitors, especially the older ones, are effectively barred from actively exploring the city from before noon to almost evening.”

The publication added that the head of the Athens Observatory Kosta Lagouvardos warned high temperatures continue even after midnight, saying “this summer is, weather-wise, extreme for our area.” It claims that some experts suggest the tourist season could eventually move to milder months.

This week Greece’s weather agency has issued amber weather warnings for ‘very high temperatures’. The Hellenic National Weather Agency said: “The southwest current that prevails in the lower levels of the atmosphere on the coasts of Africa and the Central Mediterranean will transport warm air masses to our