New York ( CNN ) -- Larisa Antypa was ready for her cruise in the Caribbean when news of the economic crisis in Greece , her home country , began to worsen . Antypa , a program coordinator for the Greek Cultural Center in Astoria , Queens , canceled her trip and decided that she would instead spend her vacation money in Greece . Like a growing number of her fellow expatriates , Antypa hopes to bolster the teetering Greek economy -- roiled again on Tuesday by a wave of violent protests and a countrywide strike against proposed austerity measures -- through tourism . It accounts for 15 % of the country 's jobs and 18 % of its GDP , according to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism . `` I want to support Greece by spending my money there ; it 's very important when your country 's in trouble to do whatever you can , '' Antypa said . `` I ask people why they 're going back , why they do n't go somewhere else , and they say , 'Now , Greece needs us . ' `` Antypa said that more members of her community , largely motivated by pride of country , are vacationing in Greece than ever before . This perception was corroborated by Ted Spyropoulos , president of the U.S. chapter of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad , who said the number of Greek-Americans visiting home has surged and is expected to increase anywhere from 20 % to 30 % in 2011 from 2010 . `` ( Greeks ) have an obligation to go because Greece needs the help right now , '' said Spyropoulos , who added his organization has launched a campaign to encourage Greek-Americans to travel there . `` There 's been a call from outside that Greece needs help . '' This year 's 10 % increase in income from American tourists , who spend three times more than the average traveler , was huge for Greece 's economic development , said Chris Petsilas , the director of the U.S. office of the Greek National Tourism Organization . Despite Greece 's debt crisis and crippling unemployment , Pestilas said tourism is booming . `` In crises , other tourists postpone their trips to our country ; this year , the Greek-Americans will come and they will bring all their friends , '' Pestilas said . Pestilas added that the Greek government had encouraged tourism from Americans by loosening regulations on cruise ships , eliminating taxes for airlines and cutting fees for hotels . Still , for many Greek-Americans , attempts to visit Greece have been hamstrung by high airfare prices and a sputtering economy at home . `` It 's depressing and sad watching our country , which is dependent on tourists , '' said George Kouvaras , owner of Piros custom furniture , who is not returning to Greece for the first time in several years . `` But there 's no money to go ( and ) the tickets are expensive , the euro is expensive , the hotels are expensive . '' Paul Collaros , a member of the Pan-Icarian Brotherhood , agreed , saying he had to postpone his trip from Dyer , Indiana , to Greece . `` Everything 's become so expensive due to what 's going on , it 's making it even harder for Greek-Americans to make the trip , '' Collaros said . But even if they can not return to visit , Greek-Americans say that their country never travels far from their thoughts . `` It 's scary ; it 's frightening ; it 's hurtful to wake up every day and watch and see the coverage of everything that 's going on in Greece . ... We ca n't help but feel bad that our brothers and sisters have to go through this , '' said Antonis Diamataris , editor and publisher of a Greek newspaper , The National Herald . Like The Greek News , the Herald is urging its readership to visit Greece this summer . `` We can not save the Greek economy , raise 100 billion dollars , and give it to them , so what we can do is spend our money in Greece -- and hope and pray things will improve . ''
Greece 's economy has been in economic crisis ; protests have roiled the nation . Some Greek-Americans are putting their tourism dollars to work in home country . One woman canceled her Caribbean cruise so she could go to Greece . Comment: