Outrage as rich tourists given £4.2k VIP access to one of Europe's most famous landmarks
Situated on the Acropolis hill overlooking Athens, this site houses the Parthenon temple, an emblem of Greece and a major attraction for mass tourism.
Several holidaymakers in Greece are up in the arms after rich tourists have been given VIP access to one of Europe's most renowned archaeological sites for a pricey sum.
Those who cough-up €5000 (£4.2k) can enter the monument on Acropolis hill overlooking Athens. This site houses the Parthenon temple, an emblem of Greece and is a major attraction for mass tourism.
In a country deeply affected by a decade of economic crisis, these exclusive tours, away from the crowds, have stirred some irritation among locals.
Private tours of the Acropolis in Athens are now offered early in the morning and in the evening, before and after public opening hours, as per the reports.
Kostas Paschalidis, president of the Greek archaeologists' union said: “VIPs can enjoy the sunset atop the Acropolis while those less fortunate watch from below, deprived of this privilege.”
At the foot of the Acropolis, Kostis Karpozilos, spokesperson for the "New Left" party, participated in a protest against the 'touristification' of the Greek capital.
He stated to RFI: “This measure clearly shows our leaders' priorities: everything for tourism, everything for turning culture into merchandise, and everything for transforming Greece into a giant EuroDisney park for tourists.”
"All this naturally has consequences on Athenians' daily lives, such as converting homes into hotels.
“Perhaps such visits for the wealthy could be acceptable if part of the money collected was used to subsidise school visits, for example. Not just for profit."
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According to Greek media, the first to experience the Acropolis exclusively were a Russian tourist couple accompanied by their private guide.
Announced last year, these private tours of the Parthenon and other Acropolis treasures were initially scheduled to begin on April 1st.
However, the Ministry of Culture later informed AFP that the launch was postponed.
The union of Greek archaeological site guards expressed opposition "to how these private tours are organised without their participation," said its president Georgia Kondyli to AFP.
She added: “We had no information about how these tours were organised.” Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Acropolis of Athens, constructed in the 5th century BC, continues to attract a growing number of visitors, especially tourists from cruise ships.
