“2022 was a record year with revenues of $17.6 billion — $2.6 billion over budget — with a 20 percent increase in cruise and car tourism and record direct flights. In 2023, we will break records for average spend per traveler as we expect a 20% increase from last year, which will have a significant impact on the real economy.”

Tourism Minister said Vasilis KikiliasV 8th Delphi Economic Forum, which takes place in Delphi on April 26-29 under the patronage of the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou. In fact, V. Kikilias expressed confidence that “nothing can destroy the country’s tourism product”, because, according to him, “we are now a very strong global brand.”

According to the minister, “the biggest bet for the next four years is infrastructure projects for tourism“, while the problem that needs to be addressed is the fragmentation and multiple division of tourism sectors and responsibilities in various ministries, recalling that the Prime Minister spoke about the creation of a quick access platform that will bring together all critical infrastructures.

As he said, in Athens and Attica, he did not stop his existence throughout the year. tourism product in 2022 and 2023 and added that all major houses are investing in the country.

The Minister spoke about the additional benefits of the cruise, as well as the many options for alternative tourist destinations. As Mr. Kikilias characteristically noted: “Now tourism in the country is not seasonal, it is being done strategically in order to last longer and longer, to be of higher quality and to bring more and more income to the Greeks.”

Now, according to the minister, more and more Greeks are participating in the profits and revenues of tourism, with 280,000 tourism-related businesses and the EOT running campaigns 12 months a year for shopping in Greece.

V. Kikilias confirmed that 25% of the country’s GDP is directly or indirectly related to tourism, and recalled that 105 million euros were allocated for social tourism, which allowed thousands of Greeks to have a decent rest throughout Greece.

ABOUT jobs and working conditionsV. Kikilias welcomed the agreement between employers and workers on sectoral labor contracts, which provides for an increase, while calling on entrepreneurs to ensure good wages for workers, while stressing that “black” labor must be suppressed.

Regarding platforms for short-term rentalcalled them a “salvation” for many citizens, but pointed out that “the problem for us is those who enter the mantle of these people and offer, in fact, hotel services with dozens of places”, and announced that measures would be taken to combat the phenomenon.

In addition, the Minister noted thatwe are always in favor of reducing taxation and creating conditions for investment and development” and added that “our partners who benefit strategically from tourism have prepared high-level studies in order to preserve the identity of the tourism product.”

Mr Kikilias announced tax incentives and incentives for the development of traditional taverns in mountainous or seaside locations to preserve the identity of the place, and referred to the huge success story of Epirus.

Concerning the phenomena of arbitrariness in Mykonos islandThe Minister of Tourism emphasized that this now proves that society and citizens are very mature to internalize and welcome the fact that there are rules and laws for everyone. Laws are for the strong and the weak, for the many and the few, and we must start with the strong, because this proves that no one is above the law, he said characteristically.

⇒ News today

Subscribe to kathimerini.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at kathimerini.gr