Tourists, they don’t only visit our islands to enjoy the sea, but also in order to enjoy our good food. Therefore, we must be providing them with cultural and gastronomical services, so that our tourism can be a sustainable source of income. Besides, we are not merely interested in attracting, here, tourists, who visit our country and just end up buying cheap Chinese products. We want to attract those tourists, who will come to our islands, in order to have a good time, enjoy our hospitality and everything that our islands can provide to them.
“Tourism is the only way for Greeks,” stated Stavros Theodorakis, in an interview, adding that “it takes two or three more things, as there cannot be tourism, unless there is agricultural production”. He pointed out that “tourists, they don’t only visit our islands to enjoy the sea, but also in order to enjoy our good food. Therefore, we must be providing them with cultural and gastronomical services, so that our tourism can be a sustainable source of income. Besides, we are not merely interested in attracting, here, tourists, who visit our country and just end up buying cheap Chinese products. We want to attract those tourists, who will come to our islands, in order to have a good time, enjoy our hospitality and everything that our islands can provide to them. And, of course, at the end of the day, we need people who will visit Greece and spend their money. But, this will never happen, if the state keeps raising problems. All that the state has to do is lift those obstacles. We want nothing more than this. For example, entrepreneurs in Crete, they do have the way to lead tourism ahead”.
Asked to comment on political developments, Stavros Theodorakis stated, “Mr Tsipras represents the center-left, just what PASOK claims that it represents. Yet, we are insisting on the major front of the center. This is where forces are supposed to meet. The liberal center, liberal progressive people, reformists from the left, all those who defend major changes, major reforms, all those who defend modernization, they are supposed to join their forces and make a constant effort”. The leader of To Potami stated that “this is not an easy case, as many got comfortable in their seats of power, while others used to feel confident with their achievements in the past and now aspire to regain them. We need to create this new front, as long as people actually believes that they can join their forces on a new basis, with new blood, not only with former ministers”.
Asked to comment on the policy of SYRIZANEL, Mr Theodorakis stated that “governmental parties have decided to take the old path. It now seems that the government has decided on a new taxation bill, given the latest developments. Besides, all it knows is imposing new taxes”.
He stressed, “There are many things ahead us. I am not optimistic at all, meaning that the ones who govern us, they do not realize the real power and forces of the country. The real force of the country is deviate from the old practices, and give the chance to creative people to invest and set up their small-scale business. Unless the country cuts down on its expenditures, there will be no change”.
Asked to comment on the likelihood of elections, he replied, “I don’t think that there will be elections in the near future. I believe that the 153 MPs will vote for the coming measures. I do not think that there is room for a new pre-elections period. I don’t think that this is necessary, as there are major pending issues in the economy and society. I think that the last thing that Greeks want, right now, is elections. There must be a deal, so that the country can get the money and so that the economy can roll. Then, we can have this talk”.
Photo credit: Theodore Manolopoulos
