FILE - A bedbug is displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, March 30, 2011. Greece’s health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of several Athens short-term rental flats by inventing a bedbug crisis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
FILE - A bedbug is displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, March 30, 2011. Greece’s health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of several Athens short-term rental flats by inventing a bedbug crisis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
CK SMC RCL STW**NY** ET DG**NY**ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's health ministry is seeking police help against hoaxers who tried to scare foreign tourists out of some Athens short-term rental apartments by inventing a bedbug crisis.
A ministry statement Tuesday said the posters stuck up outside apartment buildings in the city center, festooned with fake ministry and Athens municipality logos, were “absolutely false.â€
The posters, addressed to “dear visitors†in misspelled English, claimed health authorities had ordered local “private guesthouses†evacuated “to protect the public health of permanent Greek tenants.â€
Citing a nonexistent bedbug infestation, they threatened visitors with a 500-euro fine ($540) for failure to leave their accomodation, and politely wished them a pleasant stay in Greece.
In addition to a , Athens and other parts of Greece face housing problems largely caused by the proliferation of short-term rental apartments — mainly for foreign visitors.
That has helped fuel a surge in long-term rental costs for Greeks, many of whom are priced out of residential areas in central Athens. Property values are also spiraling, in part because of a “golden visa†program offering residence to foreign property investors.
Tourism is a key driver of , accounting for a fifth of annual output, and 2023 is expected to be a record year for arrivals.
The health ministry said Tuesday that it has informed the police “to do what is necessary†about the hoax. It said that “nobody is allowed to terrorize and misinform the public†on public health issues.
Greece hasn't recorded any major trouble with the bloodsucking creepy-crawlies that recently caused consternation .
The ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Press. All rights reserved.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and nine other candidates in the riding of Ba…
The ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Pharmacists Association says the painkiller shortage in Canada should…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
