“In the first quarter of 2022, revenues in touristic product increased by 342% compared to the corresponding period last year “noted the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, in an interview given to the television station ANT1.
As Mr. Kikilias underlined, the incoming travel traffic is also increased this year by 295% compared to last year. He spoke with specific examples from well-known tourist destinations, such as the islands of the southern and southeastern Aegean, in which -as he said- in May this year both the tourist movementas well as revenues, recorded an average weight of 10% compared to the corresponding performance in May 2019.
“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”, stressed the Minister of Tourism.
Mr. Kikilias also referred to the record of arrivals of American tourists in our country. “We have direct flights from America to ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ for over half a million travelers, with 9 flights a day, from March 7. In other words, we are talking about 63 flights a week directly from the USA, not including transit flights.
These are ‘high spenders’ travelers, who leave a large income in shops, hotels, in the city, in the country. And you can ask the shopkeepers in Plaka about this “, he emphasized characteristically. In fact, as the Minister of Tourism added, the tourist flow from the USA is so strong that the companies themselves put bigger planes, as there are no vacancies until the end of the summer season.
Indicative of the positive messages from tour operators abroad is the fact that contracts are already being made for the summer of 2023, said Mr. Kikilias. “Easy Jet is already doing it. Jet 2 is already doing it, which shows how strong the brand Greece is. “Let us not overlook the fact that our country is the number 5 tourist brand in the world”, he pointed out characteristically.
Mr. Kikilias developed the strategy of the Ministry of Tourism that was followed, all this time, with the main goal – as he said – to “enlighten” more and more new destinations throughout the country. “Currently, the occupancy in Halki, Symi, Astypalea, 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%. We enhance the tourism product even in non-traditional destinations of the country. “And this is because we want the dividend from tourism to reach the average Greek family, in every corner of our country”, said the Minister of Tourism.
Finally, regarding the “Tourism for All” program, which starts on July 1st, Mr. Kikilias stressed that this is a program with a new form and structure and with almost zero bureaucracy. “Last year, 20 million euros were spent for the program, while this year 30 million euros are available. The program is valid for the next five years and the voucher of 150 euros will be available to any beneficiary – until the end of the year – where he wishes, either for the accommodation, for the tickets, or for the stores of health interest ” , said the Minister of Tourism.
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