Agents calm fears over Kos ‘hell hole’
Travel agents have dismissed a Daily Mail report that quoted British holidaymakers complaining their holidays in Kos were ruined by the sight of African immigrants as ‘nasty’ and ‘scaremongering’, but they said the article might damage business to the Greek island.
One agent wrote on the Facebook site Travel Gossip that she had received a call from a client who had seen the article and was worried about her future travel plans to Kos, but others said the report, which claimed Kos had been turned into a ‘hell hole’ was sensationalist.
One wrote: "Hopefully people will realise it’s only the daily mail and treat it with the contempt it deserves."
The Daily Mail article claimed British holidaymakers had ‘clashed’ with boat people from Syria and Afghanistan after hundreds arrived on the island in the last few days. It claimed the immigrants were sleeping rough in cardboard boxes on the beach, just yards from where holidaymakers ‘relax on sun loungers’.
It quoted one Briton saying the island was ‘dirty and messy’ and others said they felt uncomfortable eating in restaurants while watched by penniless asylum seekers outside.
However, agents said the boat people were mainly in the city, well away from the tourist areas and that reps on the island had reassured them that the asylum seekers had not caused any problems.
A travel agent who is in Kos this week, wrote on the Travel Gossip thread: "I’m here and it’s fine….some refugees in Park and some people saw a lot at the police station waiting for onward travel documents. All quiet and orderly. Thinks mail is making a bit of a mountain out of a molehill. Poor businesses of kos. They have tolerate the original problem and contend with sensational press reports that will damage their businesses and livelihoods"
The Greek islands are being forced to deal with the arrival of thousands of migrants arriving in boats after fleeing from war-torn African countries while at the same time wrestling with a financial crisis, which could see the country exiting the euro this summer, causing further uncertainty for tourists.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt