07 December 2023 , 13:31
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Anti-tourism activists have been trying to scare visitors away from Airbnbs and other guesthouses in Athens by staging a bed-bug host.
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. Posters appeared outside apartment buildings in the city centre, festooned with fake ministry and Athens municipality logos. The country's health ministry has warned that the posters were "absolutely false".
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".
Citing a non-existent bedbug infestation, they threatened visitors with a 500-euro fine (£427) for failure to leave their accommodation, and politely wished them a pleasant stay in Greece.
The threat of bed bugs is one that hangs over all regular travellers (Getty Images/iStockphoto)In addition to a cost-of-living crisis, Athens and other parts of Greece face housing problems that some have argued are largely caused by the proliferation of short-term rental apartments — mainly for foreign visitors.
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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 Greece’s economy, 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 terrorise and misinform the public" on public health issues.
Greece hasn’t recorded any major trouble with the bloodsucking creepy-crawlies that recently caused major concerns in France. Paris has seen a bed bug-related panic, with plagues of the insects being reported in schools, hospitals and cinemas.
The nasties are on the rise, with data released by Rentokil in September finding there had been a 65% increase in infestations from 2022 to 2023 in the UK. Bedbugs are wingless, oval-shaped, and are usually about 6mm long and flat in appearance. They are pale brown in colour when not eating, but turn a reddish brown colour when fully fed on blood.
One of the strongest signs of a bedbug infestation is an unusual odour with no other obvious cause. This is often described as a musty, sweet smell. Other signs that there bedbugs in a room include dark blood stains on sheets and bedding, as well as poo from the insects, which look like small brown spots.
Hotel rooms and other forms of shared accommodation can be hotspots, and might want to be especially vigilant if you're staying in an area known to have a problem. In a video that recently went viral on TikTok, a hospitality expert recommended keeping the lights switched off and using the torch on your phone to look under and around the bed for the nocturnal bugs.
Though there are checks you can do, most people realise they have been around bedbugs when they discover itchy, irritated skin from bites.