2022 will be a great year for the Greek tourism sector as Arrivals and tourism revenues have increased in many parts of the country, even exceeding the number of tourists who visited these regions in pre-Covid 2019. Information about the deafening growth in tourism was confirmed by the Minister of Tourism of Greece Vassilis Kikilias to journalists.
The official said that despite the numerous problems caused by the energy crisis, inflation, the situation in Ukraine, and the pandemic, Greece intends to increase the number of holidaymakers arriving until the end of 2022. “Success in tourism requires a lot of hard work in winter, which has been done, and these efforts are now bearing fruit,” the minister noted and thanked the tourism sector professionals for the quality and high level of services they offer to holidaymakers, improving the country’s tourism product.
According to Kikilias, tourism is improving in the country thanks to some individual donor countries that have come to replace the Russians. Thus, the flow of American tourists to Greece increased by 50 percent compared to the pre-Covid 2019 year as a result of strong Greek-American relations, which, according to the minister, the prime minister cemented with his trip to Washington.
In addition, he highlighted another specific strategy that led to an agreement with American Airlines for 63 direct flights a week from the US. “A large number of American travelers, as well as contacts with the markets of the Balkan countries, which resulted in Greece becoming the number one destination for Romanian and Serbian tourists this year, offset the losses from Russia, Ukraine, and especially from the large Chinese market, which remains closed due to pandemic,” Kikilias said in this regard.
Minister Kikilias also said that Thassos, an island in the northern Aegean Sea that is full of Romanian travelers, is a typical example, while the island’s occupancy was 90% at Easter and is now 100%.
On July 6, the minister, referring to data from a study of the global tourism market, explained that 6 of the 10 main European tourist destinations, which recorded the largest growth compared to the pre-Covid 2019 year, are in Greece. Thus, the islands of Mykonos and Rhodes recorded an increase of 29% compared to the same period in 2019. And in Chania (a popular city in Crete) an increase of 26% was recorded. It is followed by the island of Santorini with 20% and Thessaloniki-Chalkidiki (with 19%).
The Minister also mentioned projects worth more than 100 million euros through the Recovery Fund for Thermal, Mountain, and Diving Tourism, which are linked to the principles of sustainable development for a cleaner and greener future. In addition, Kikilias revealed other plans that have also been developed for the resorts of Santorini and Mykonos, the country’s two islands that are global destinations, citing activities related to the development of infrastructure projects as well as water management and other projects.