Greece to Tourists: Keep Coming LONDON - Taking a vacation in Greece this year may feel a bit like intruding on private grief. Idling at the beach or hanging out at the local taverna at a time when many Greeks are going short might spark a twinge of guilt in even the most hard-hearted tourist. As my colleague Rachel Donadio writes from Athens, the Greek people are in a state of deepening depression about their economic plight, with many fearing that - whatever the results - Sunday's elections offer no clear route out of the crisis. "Highly educated young people are desperate to emigrate," Rachel writes. In the midst of all the gloom and uncertainty, many would-be vacationers might opt to stay away. However, cash-starved Greece is desperate for foreign business and authorities are hastening to assure visitors that they are more welcome than ever. The National Tourism Organization has just launched an initiative to use social media to promote the virtues of a Greek vacation and to respond to "inaccuracies or speculations" that have prompted a downward trend in the local travel market. The tourism body is inviting social media savvy, English-speaking supporters to join its True Greece campaign to highlight their positive experiences of what "undeniably, remains one of the greatest travel destinations in the world." The initiative coincides with advertising campaigns by travel companies promoting the cheap vacation opportunities in recession-hit Greece, particularly for visitors outside the euro zone. As International Business Times noted this week: "A repeat election on June 17 will likely determine whether Greece retains the common currency or returns to the drachma. The gloomy forecast has travel agents across the world offering discounted fares to try and convince travelers to visit the sun-soaked Greek Isles and historic monuments. With Greece's tourism revenues set to tumble by up to 15 percent this year, sellers of vacation packages are slashing rates by as much as 60 percent. Giorgos Telonis, head of the Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agencies, was quoted by Greece's Ekathimerini's news site as blaming negative publicity in world media for distorting the country's image as a safe destination. The immediate result is the devaluation of our country in the international tourism market. We are all feeling the impact on the tourism industry and the Greek economy and society," Mr. Telonis said. Tourism represents 15 percent of Greek output and provides one in five jobs, so a dip in visitor numbers would only make a bad economic situation worse. The True Greece campaign aims to assure potential visitors that it is business as usual in Greece and that they will get value for money and be safe. The organizers want to reassure potential visitors worried that they might get caught up in internal unrest or else be financially stranded if the country suddenly pulled out of the euro. Travel writers have also begun responding to their readers" concerns with advice columns on traveling to Greece. Simon Calder of Britain's The Independent newspaper advised tourists to take low-denomination euro notes and to forget about using their plastic if Greece suddenly left the common currency. "Were Greece to leave the euro... electronic banking could freeze for up to a week and prevent debit and credit card transactions," Mr. Calder wrote on Thursday. The True Greece campaign has only had a week to make an impact. Despite its negative outlook on the sector, there are indications that bargain-hunters are already helping to keep visitor numbers up. The Daily Mail reported that four million Britons - twice the usual number - were headed to Greece this year, attracted by the low prices.