Foreign Office Revises Travel Guidance for Greece
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued updated travel advice for Greece, a popular European Union holiday destination for British tourists. The new guidance, published on Thursday, March 5, 2026, specifically removes previous information concerning mass demonstrations and widespread disruptions to public services across Greece that were reported on February 28.
Background of the Protests
Tens of thousands of Greek citizens gathered in Athens, the capital, and other cities on Saturday to commemorate the anniversary of a devastating train crash in 2023. This event stands as the deadliest rail disaster in the country's history. Protesters are demanding justice ahead of a criminal trial scheduled to begin next month.
During the demonstrations, participants laid flowers and displayed banners with messages such as "Justice" outside the parliament building. Pavlos Aslanidis, head of the victims' relatives association, emphasized in a speech, "We seek one thing: Justice." One banner in Athens starkly declared, "It wasn't an accident, it was murder."
Widespread Participation and Demands
The protests saw involvement from various groups, including the Greek Actors’ Union, unions of private employees and freelancers, and the Civil Servants’ Confederation, which urged public-sector workers to join. A statement from the confederation highlighted their ongoing fight for exclusively public rail transport to prevent any cover-up of the crime and ensure that criminal and political responsibilities are assigned to all involved parties.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the situation in a message on Saturday, stating, "Three years after the accident in Tempi that deeply affected all Greeks, the memory of the victims and the pain of their relatives unite in a common demand: that those responsible for the tragedy be held accountable in a strict and impartial manner in the trial that is now beginning."
International Echoes of the Protests
The demonstrations extended beyond Greece, with approximately 300 people protesting outside the Greek Embassy in Holland Park, London. Chants from the crowd included, "They are talking about profit and losses - We are talking about human lives!" Despoina, a finance lecturer, expressed frustration, saying, "It is a big frustration and disappointment and anger about the fact that three years after the criminal incident we haven’t seen any progress with justice."
She further criticized the obstacles faced by survivors and relatives, noting, "Every political person involved, they have complete impunity… Everyone who’s higher up seems like they’re getting away with murder and this is literal."
The updated Foreign Office advice reflects the current situation, providing clearer guidance for UK holidaymakers planning trips to Greece amidst these developments.
