Greece Debt Crisis: Athens Acropolis Now Accepting Credit Cards

Greece Debt Crisis: Athens Acropolis Now Accepting Credit Cards Tourists at the Acropolis, Athens Photo via: Protothema As the Greek debt crisis deepens, the national government has imposed a daily limit of EUR60 euros ($67) on cash withdrawals from ATMs. The draconian measure has not only hindered locals, but the horde of tourists that are descending upon the country for the summer holidays as well. Athens's most popular tourist attraction, however, has come up with a handy solution: visitors to the world-famous ruins of the Acropolis can now pay for entry tickets by debit or credit card. According to AFP, yesterday, the culture ministry said that demands for the Acropolis to accept cards to pay the EUR12 ($13.5) admission fee had been a long time coming, and that families want to be able to admire the Parthenon and surrounding ruins despite the cash shortage. The ministry also said that tour operators would be allowed to buy entry passes to the site on an IOU basis and pay the money once the banks re-open.

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Transcript of Greece Debt Crisis: Athens Acropolis Now Accepting Credit Cards

Greece Debt Crisis: Athens Acropolis Now Accepting CreditCards

Tourists atthe Acropolis, Athens

Photo via: Protothema

As the Greek debt crisis deepens, the national government has imposed a daily limit of EUR60 euros($67) on cash withdrawals from ATMs.

The draconian measure has not only hindered locals, but the horde of tourists that are descendingupon the country for the summer holidays as well.

Athens's most popular tourist attraction, however, has come up with a handy solution: visitors to theworld-famous ruins of the Acropolis can now pay for entry tickets by debit or credit card.

According to AFP, yesterday, the culture ministry said that demands for the Acropolis to acceptcards to pay the EUR12 ($13.5) admission fee had been a long time coming, and that families wantto be able to admire the Parthenon and surrounding ruins despite the cash shortage.

The ministry also said that tour operators would be allowed to buy entry passes to the site on an IOUbasis and pay the money once the banks re-open.

Page 2: Greece Debt Crisis: Athens Acropolis Now Accepting Credit Cards

People queuing at a ATM in Greece

Photo via: The Guardian

Since the government imposed capital controls and decided to close banks on Sunday, long queueshave formed across the country to retrieve cash from ATMs.

The cap on cash withdrawals, introduced on Monday, has worsened the situation. And althoughcards issued by foreign banks are exempt of the EUR60 limit, due to the ensuing massive demandfor cash, ATMs began to run dry already on Monday.

The Acropolis, Athens's hill-top citadel, is a 2,500-year-old temple complex dedicated to the Greekgoddess Athena. It contains the remains of ancient buildings of unparalleled significance, including