The “sun and sea” model passes the baton to winter tourism 28 of Octoberwhere Greek visitors are expected to flood popular mountain destinations.

The “first” autumn outing could see an increase in mobility, but it still can’t reach 2019 figures, Lysandros Tsilidis, president of the Federation of Travel Agents FedHatta, tells Athens Macedonian News Agency. At the same time, a significant part of the Greeks, after two years of the pandemic, travel abroad, which means that the tourism industry is returning to its normal life.

Where will the Greeks go for three days on October 28?

In his speech at APE-MBE, Mr. Tsilidis notes that the current escape of the Greeks did not happen through organized travel packages, but “on their own”. As for the destinations that will play a major role in this first “test” of the domestic tourism action, Mr. Tsilidis states that all the country’s winter destinations are in demand: Zagorochoria, Tsoumerka, Central Greece, Thessaly, Lake Plastira, Trikala, Kalambaka, Meteora , Pelion, Evia, Delphi, Peloponnese are the main destinations, while Crete has a special focus as this year many Greeks will visit it for three days on October 28th. Generally, plane tickets to the island are scarce, and last-minute visitors may have to resort to the coastal sailing solution.

As for the Greeks who will move abroad, the destinations that are in high demand are Italy, France, London, Austria, Czech Republic, Paris, Rome, Portugal, Spain, as well as the demand for Dubai, the Emirates and especially America. The fact that there are now direct flights between Greece and the US has given impetus and incentive to travel from Greece to the US.

As for the accommodation Greek travelers will choose for their stay, Mr Tsilidis says these are mostly boutique hotels, as it is well known that most of the major resorts closed on October 15 and only a few extended their opening hours. until early November. At the same time, as emphasized, the short-term rental industry will also receive a significant share of visitors.

Vassilis Kikilias: High occupancy for three days on October 28

For his part, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, in his recent three-day statement on October 28, mentioned that the occupancy rate in Pelion, Mani, Trikala Korinthia and Arachova is already over 90%, while in Vytina and Dimitsan it is already over 95%. , very high occupancy in Epirus (Zagorochoria, Metsovo, Aristi, etc.), and there are also places where it is now very difficult to find housing, for example, mountainous Nafpaktia, where occupancy reaches 100%.

A winter success story is not “built” in three days

Staying in the hotels of the mountain range, where they had previously held the second meeting of their bodies – members of the FOH – in Trikala Korinthia, their representatives indicated in their announcement that “shortly before the start of the winter season, the success story of winter had already begun to” build “in about two – three or three days, in a season of 130 days.

In fact, having said that the hotels of mainland and mountainous Greece are facing an unprecedented crisis, they note that they are looking for solutions for survival, as well as interventions and support for winter mountainous destinations in Greece and abroad, in order to promote and support the mainland country.

Source: RES-IPE