Responsible tourism in Greece

Europe’s migrant & refugee crisis

In 2021, six young Afghan asylum seekers were imprisoned for burning down Europe’s largest migrant camp outside the village of Moria on Lesbos – a crime they deny. Close to the west coast of Turkey, Lesbos is a frequent staging-point for people making dangerous journeys from Asia and the Middle East in search of asylum and a new life in Europe. For years, however, many found themselves trapped at Moria or other camps in a state of limbo, their asylum applications endlessly delayed while overcrowding and conditions worsened.

The fire brought matters to a head. The Moria camp had long been a source of simmering tension with local residents, who initially offered a sympathetic welcome to migrants but began to feel that they had been abandoned by the rest of Europe and left to cope by themselves. Unable to seek employment, migrants were accused of stealing livestock and cutting down olive trees for firewood. Threats and protests grew, and when Turkey opened its European border, resulting in a massive influx of Syrian asylum seekers, a new center right government in Greece began enacting a much harsher response.

Boats carrying migrants are now physically pushed away from Greece’s borders (a practise which is both illegal and dangerous). New policies, meanwhile, make it harder for those who do make it to land to access services and resources, and easier for them to be deported. New asylum processing facilities are replacing the squalid, unsanitary Moria camp on Lesbos as well as Kos, Leros, Chios and Samos. They have restaurants, sports pitches and playgrounds for children. But with their military-grade fences, cameras and remote locations, they resemble high-tech prisons, and people arriving in them can still anticipate being stuck for years while their asylum claims work their way through the system.

Lesbos, like many Greek islands, has an economy largely dependent on tourism, and it has been significantly affected by negative headlines around migration. Arrivals halved in 2016 following the Syrian refugee crisis and the largest movement of migrants into Europe since World War II, and they have not recovered.

Visible signs of the refugee crisis can be distressing to some tourists. But there’s a danger that hiding migrants from view in isolated camps detracts from the scale of the problem, and the appalling situation these people are in, and the urgency we should all feel to resolve it. Out of sight, out of mind, and vulnerable to inhumane government policies.

Another issue is volunteer tourism. There are around 50,000 refugees in Greece, most of whom will stay there for a prolonged period. An evolutionary system of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), some registered, others not, has formed around them, and there is a constant churn of volunteers in the country. While it’s hard to fault their intentions, many are untrained to work with people who have often experienced severe trauma. Children in the camps can also be emotionally harmed as they form attachments with volunteers who are only there for a few weeks at a time.

All of this stands in stark contrast with the way that thousands of Ukrainian refugees heading to Greece after the Russian invasion have been welcomed and offered jobs, many of them in tourism. That has led to criticism of a two-tier refugee system, with some migrants viewed as more deserving of support than others.

What you can do to support migrants in Greece
Visit islands like Lesbos, Paros and Kos, and show solidarity. There are many migrant-friendly businesses on the islands, and local people still concerned about refugees and trying to support them – including rescuing them at sea.

If you want to offer support to migrants in Greece, don’t bring hand-outs on vacation. Instead, donate to one the many organisations that support asylum seekers and refugees in Greece and elsewhere such as Refugee Action and Global Giving – they know what’s needed most and will ensure your money has the greatest impact.

Volunteering in Greek migrant camps is not something to be undertaken lightly. You should join a registered organisation that offers adequate training rather than throwing you in at the deep end. If you don’t have suitable training or experience, consider if your presence will be genuinely helpful and if you might not be able to do more good from home, such as by organising genuinely needed donations.

Why are there so many cats in Greece?

Greece has hundreds of thousands of feral cats and dogs. The reason is that for years little effort was made to control their populations through spaying and neutering, and now it’s rare to walk down a street without being followed by a pair of hungry eyes hoping for a dropped gyro.

Many of these animals are diseased, malnourished or aggressive. They survive on scraps and the kindness of local people and passing tourists. Despite pressure from the European Union, through which the Greek government is supposed to enforce animal protection laws, the authorities do little to look after them. In fact, they are viewed as pests in many places – poisonings are sadly common.

There are several non-governmental shelters and welfare organisations around Greece doing what they can. As well as running neutering and vaccination programmes, they will often try to send animals abroad for adoption, although this is an expensive process.

What you can do to help stray animals in Greece
Don’t feed dogs or cats you meet on the street, as this encourages them to beg which makes them an annoyance to local people. In fact, it’s best not to go near them at all, as they may be aggressive or diseased.

Donate to shelters and welfare organisations such as Greek Animal Rescue and Friends of the Strays of Greece to help with the costs of shelter, food and veterinary care.

If you’re thinking of adopting a cat or dog from Greece, organisations such as those above can help. Be aware that there can be substantial costs involved with rehoming, and the animal’s welfare must come first, so think very carefully about it before making the commitment.