Civil unrest sweeping Greece has seen the national tourist infrastructure hit by significant disruption.

Planes have been grounded at international airports, while rail, ferry and bus services have all been hit during a general strike.

Civil engineers, journalists, teachers and lawyers also joined the action.

Protestors are continuing to express their discontent at government austerity measures imposed in return for €110 billion bail-out earlier this year.

It is the seventh general strike in Greece since the measures were first introduced.

Yesterday the Greek parliament voted through key economic reforms stipulated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and EU, which are funding the bailout.

Under the terms of the new legislation salaries of public sector workers will be capped, including those in the public transport networks.

In the private sector, employers will no longer have to abide by union negotiated agreements and can set their own wages.

“We have tough decisions ahead of us, but it is only through bold strokes that we can overcome the difficulties,” said Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Greece is presently battling a debt mountain of over €300 billion and teetered on the edge of bankruptcy in May before it was rescued by a loan from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF.

In November the government announced plans to reduce the deficit of loss-making state enterprises by €800 million.