OPERATORS claim Greek resorts need to improve the way
they manage tourists following the fatal stabbing of a British holidaymaker in
Faliraki.
Federation of Tour Operators director general Andy
Cooper said Greek authorities needed to learn lessons from destinations such as
Ibiza on how to cope with an influx of young tourists.
Cooper said: “They need to develop sensible policies
and practical solutions for dealing appropriately with large numbers of
tourists.” Ibiza responded to problems by putting extra police in San Antonio
during peak season, he added.
The Spanish Tourist Office said 5,091 extra police are
put in tourist destinations from July 1 to August 31 every year.
First Choice Holidays product director Tim Williamson
agreed local authorities should look at the current procedures and said it
encourages clients to behave sensibly.
The latest incident – which saw a 17-year-old stabbed
after a bar brawl last Tuesday – follows a crackdown by Faliraki officials on
boozy behaviour. Operators now have to apply for licences before organising pub
crawls and plain-clothed police officers have been drafted in.