Greece’s winter destinations like Ioannina and the Epirus region, Pelion and Drama are all set to welcome a rush of Greece’s holiday travelers. Tourism experts foresee record visits and the corresponding hotel capacity.
Christmas and New Year’s holidaymakers are set to boost hotel occupancy rates in Ioannina to more than 75 percent, in Drama to 95 percent and in the Mt Pelion and Volos area – which includes the popular mountain towns of Portaria, Makrinitsa, Milies and Hania – to 80 percent.
Speaking to the Athens News Agency(ANA-MPA), Drama Hotel Association President Angelos Kallias says he expects fully booked hotels in the northern Greek city due to the popular “Oneiroupoli” Christmas theme park. Meanwhile, hotels outside Drama are expected to reach 75 percent capacity hosting travelers seeking to participate in winter sports at the Falakro Ski Resort.
Kalavryta – a popular winter spot for skiers – is also set to win over the holiday crowds. Kalavryta Ski Center general manager Leonidas Spyropoulos said the resort is working with the Kalavryta Hoteliers Association, securing accommodation for as little as 30 euros a night (including visit to the ski resort). According to Spyropoulos, last year the resort – with a capacity of 3,000 people – welcomed thousands of visitors.
Moreover, the chairman of the ski association in Kastoria, Yiorgos Nikitidis, told the ANA that the Vitsi Ski Center is ready to welcome its visitors, adding that the upcoming Kastoria carnival – “Ragoutsaria” – ti take place January 6-8 is expected to give an extension to the winter holiday season.
Despite the positive outlook for the holidays, hoteliers at winter destinations, primarily in Northern Greece, underlined that the viability of their businesses is still at risk due to low occupancy rates in the summer months, at times reaching only 15-20 percent.