Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the country’s authorities have made every effort to start the tourist season, stressing that the data for Athens and Thessaloniki and the availability of accommodation for the Easter period justify all the efforts made by Greece.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Tourism on April 18, Minister Kikilias also cited the island of Corfu as a typical example of this achievement, as well as Santorini, where many American tourists arrived earlier this year, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
“Tourism is the country’s popular economy and the money from tourism goes directly into the real economy, supporting the disposable income of Greeks and SMEs,” he said.
At the same time, he added that tourism is one of the most important instruments for the regional development of Greece. According to him, this is due to the fact that the Greek islands are small, and the mountainous regions attract investment and retain their population thanks to income from tourists.
In another statement released on April 19, the Minister of Tourism also said that visitors had already begun to arrive in Greece, stressing that the decision to start the tourist season earlier than ever was instrumental in achieving an increase in the number of tourists during this time.
“The launch of direct flights from the United States on March 7, the increase in cruises, with Piraeus as the home port, brings passengers to Athens and contributes to an increase in tourist flow, creating income for the city’s economy,” Kikilias said in this regard.
In addition, German airline Condor began flights from Dusseldorf and Leipzig on April 18 after a nearly 20-year hiatus, and Condor’s decision to choose Athens Airport reflects the company’s confidence in the Greek capital as a destination, the ministry said.
According to Minister Kikilias, Aegean’s cooperation with TUI France is of great importance for the French market.
Greece also ranks first in pre-booking sales for 2022 across the board, according to TUI France. Bookings have also risen to triple digits this year compared to summer 2021.
In addition, the main destinations in Greece for the French are Athens, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and Corfu.
Tourism Minister Kikilias said that the Epirus region is a favorite among tourist destinations this year, noting that the promotion of lesser known destinations will be stepped up.