Greece’s head of tourism, Vassilis Kikilias says touristic flows to the country are increasing geometrically week to week. According to a report issued by his ministry, tourism revenues have surged by 342 per cent compared to last year in only the first three months of the year.
Other sources corroborate what Kikilias is saying, revealing that both travel traffic and revenue increased in May. Kikilias is quoted saying:
“Only for June, we expect 500 cruise ships in Greece. There are data that show that there is indeed a strong tourist flow, which is even increasing week by week.”
Also in his report, a significant increase in American tourists seems to show that marketing campaigns aimed at that market have been successful. The number of American arrivals has increased significantly since March 7th. Arrivals are up to over half a million travellers, with nine flights a day – amounting to 63 flights a week from the United States, excluding the transit flights.
Kikilias also claims the increasing number of American tourists has pushed tour operators to start establishing contracts for the summer of 2023. The minister pointed out how Swiss-based operator, Easy Jet, is already doing and so is its competitor, Jet 2. He says this indicated that Greece is a strong brand for tourism, as it is the number five tourist brand in the world.
“Currently, the occupancy in Halki, Symi, Astypalea, and Kastelorizo is extremely high. We support alternative destinations. We gave impetus to the cruise. Only in the port of Thessaloniki, the increase in cruising, at the moment, exceeds 250 per cent. We enhance the tourism product even in non-traditional destinations of the country.”
The tourism minister also mentioned as many as 500 cruise ships headed to Greece this season, as well as the high-spending potential of the aforementioned American tourists compared with budget travelers.