Counting the cost of the Thomas Cook affair

The Greek government is set to announce measures to support the local tourism industry, which has been dealt a major blow by the collapse late on Sunday of British tour company Thomas Cook. Greek hoteliers estimate that their exposure to the UK tour operator comes to at least 200 million euros, although market estimates put this figure at up to 430 million, as the company's downfall constitutes a systemic danger for local tourism.

The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) has called on the government to take "specific measures for the absorption of problems that emerge in tourism enterprises," while the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels asked for "the support of hotels hurt directly by the collapse of Thomas Cook," stressing that "the behavior toward and the treatment of these people will reflect on Greece as a hospitable and responsible country internationally."