Dept draws up contingency plan for Irish tourists in Greece
The Department of Foreign Affairs has drawn up contingency plans to help out holidaymakers who could face a cashflow crisis in Greece.
Officials are monitoring developments there and according to the Irish Independent, "all options" will be considered if there are any developments that could affect citizens.
It is advising people making the trip not to rely on cash machines, although at this stage there has been no increase in requests for assistance from the Irish embassy in Athens.
The Department has said that shortages of some essential supplies in Greece are being reported, including medical supplies.
They said: "Make sure you have sufficient medical supplies (including prescription medicines) for the duration of your stay and any unforeseen delays.
"Before travelling, the Department strongly recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical repatriation/evacuation, repatriation of remains and legal costs. You should check any exclusions and, in particular, that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, charlie Flanagan, is advising Irish people travelling to Greece to take more than one means of payment with them (cash, debit card, credit card).
The Greek Government has confirmed that tourists are not affected by the ATM withdrawal limits.
The Minister has advised visitors to Greece to be aware of the possibility that banking services – including credit card processing and servicing of ATMs – throughout Greece could potentially become limited at short notice.
Irish citizens are encouraged to ensure that they have enough money to cover emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and any unexpected delays, alongside appropriate security precautions against theft.
A department statement said: "The Greek Government has indicated that Capital Controls will not affect tourists but you are strongly advised to bring adequate cash."
They also said that if any Irish tourist in Greece has an emergency, or if any Irish person needs help and advice, they should contact the Irish Embassy in Athens.
