Greece: Arrivals in Southeast Aegean Islands Increased by 17% in First Week of August
An increase of 17 per cent was seen in the Aegean islands of southeastern Greece in the first week of August, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the government.
Through a statement issued today, the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias emphasized that if we look at the previous months with all those difficulties such as the war in Ukraine, inflation, the energy crisis, Greek-Turkish problems, and the pandemic, no one would think that Greece would be so successful in tourism, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
In addition, the excellent performance of tourism is also reflected in short-term rentals (Airbnb), in which an increase of 26.5 per cent is noted in July, August, and September compared to the corresponding months of 2019.
“We have done a lot of hard work, and a lot of effort has been made not only by me but also by all the people in the tourism industry, from the private sector to the Greek government. The farmers give us the fruits, the vegetables, the products from the Greek land, in our hotels and our restaurants, the commercial world is there in every tourist area, and thus it develops,” Minister Kikilias noted.
According to the Minister, health shops are full because of tourism, and eight out of ten investments in Greece are already tourist attractions, be it hotels or infrastructure.
The Minister of Tourism also mentioned the campaign that will be carried out in cooperation with the Greek Tourism Organization (EOT) in the countries of Northern and Central Europe in order to attract travellers in autumn and winter.
“The week before the TIF, in consultation with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I will travel to Germany and tour major cities in the country so that we can promote with the German tour operators that it is in the interest of the country’s retirees, it is more economical for them, to live 1-3 months in Greece – in Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Athens, Thessaloniki – rather than staying at home and paying for natural gas and oil,” he pointed out.
He also added that there would be a campaign to extend the tourist season in the countries of Northern Europe, Scandinavia, France, and Switzerland.
Moreover, Kikilias also spoke about Athens and the large flows of travel that have been observed this year, which gave a significant pause to tourism and health and trade professionals.
Previously, the Greek Minister revealed that in the coming weeks of August, there would be a high number of tourist arrivals, adding that the country is expected to welcome more than one million visitors in the week of August.
