Travel industry giant TUI on Monday sent a message of confidence in Greece and the Greek tourist product, while presenting its winter programme to German journalists in Chania, Crete.

-"The referendum will be held as scheduled, a strong no, return to the negotiations and a good agreement for Europe, for Greece and for our people in the next week," said State Minister Nikos Pappas in his address to parliament on Tuesday.

Greece has confirmed, through finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, that it won’t make a €1.55bn loan repayment to that IMF due on Tuesday.

Up to 75% is the drop in consumer purchases, as calculated by traders in Piraeus, as people are turning mainly to buying basic foodstuffs.