Arrivals to its islands increased by 17% Southeast Aegean the first seven days of August compared to the corresponding period of 2019, said the Minister of Tourism Vasilis Kikilias.

Speaking on the SKAI TV channel, the minister stressed that a few months ago no one could have imagined that with all these difficulties (the war in Ukraine, inflation, the energy crisis, Greek-Turkish relations, the pandemic), Greece would succeed in tourism, not not to mention reaching, but also surpassing, in some areas, the performance of 2019.

His excellent course tourismas Mr. Kikilias mentioned, is also reflected in short-term rentals (Airbnb), which recorded a 26.5% increase 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 put in not only by me, but by all the people in the tourism industry, in the private sector, in the Greek government. Farmers give us fruits, vegetables, products from the Greek land in our hotels and restaurants, the commercial world is in every tourist area and in this way it develops. Health shops are crowded due to tourism and 8 out of 10 investments in Greece are currently tourism-related, be it hotels or infrastructure. And of course there is no doubt that hundreds of thousands of professions expect from tourism and live it. These figures cannot but please me, because the entire Greek economy is involved in this network. Multinational corporations are good, big hoteliers are good, tour operators are good, airlines are good. I really work, we work for an average Greek family, for a worker in tourism. We must support these people. A hard winter is coming. We started the season earlier, from the beginning of March, and we strive, and I say this sincerely, to complete it on December 22,” he said characteristically.

Campaign to attract travelers in winter

The Minister of Tourism also spoke about a campaign that will be carried out in cooperation with EOT in the Nordic and Central European countries to attract travelers in autumn and winter.

“A week before TIF, after consultation with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I will go to Germany and visit major cities of the country so that we can promote with German tour operators that this is in the interests of the country’s pensioners, it is more economically beneficial for them to live 1-3 months in Greece – in Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, in Athens, Thessaloniki – than to sit at home and pay for natural gas and oil. We will also carry out a campaign to extend the tourist season – in the Nordic countries, in Scandinavia, as well as in France, Switzerland,” the minister said.

Finally, Mr. Kikilias mentioned Athens and the very large influx of tourists this year. According to him, an agreement has been reached with American airlines on 63 direct flights per week from the United States to El. Venizelos”, which will see the capital filled from the beginning of March with “high-paid” travelers who spend a lot and their stay is multi-day, which will significantly strengthen the Greek business center and the Athenian Riviera.