The significant scope for further activation of the multiplying effects of tourism on commercial enterprises is highlighted by a relevant ESEE research that was presented today at an event in the presence of the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilia, who proposed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation to promote “Shopping in Greece”.

According to the results of the survey, the most important nationalities of tourists visiting the country are the English, Germans, French, Italians and Americans who choose for their stay mainly an all inclusive or non-inclusive hotel (62.5%) and short-term rental accommodation (Airbnb type) (19.9%).

Most (52.8%) have an income between 15,000 – 50,000 euros and spend a little more than 200 euros per day/person.

Of these amounts, 9% goes to the purchase of products from commercial enterprises and 6% to the purchase of food.

The highest spending on shopping is recorded in Crete (26 euros) with the Americans noting the strongest impulse of consumption from commercial enterprises (21 euros).

The most dynamic tourist commercial products are souvenirs (24.3%) and local traditional products (19.2%) with the main reason for the purchases being the tendency of foreign visitors to purchase souvenirs from the place they are visiting ( 29.6%).

Most foreign tourists choose for their purchases mainly local shops/local markets (62%), while most of them (47.6%) state that they are very/very likely to buy a Greek product remotely when they return to the country their.

“Tourism and Trade are two interrelated concepts”, emphasized Mr. Kikilias and added:

“As Minister of Tourism I would like to propose a greater connection with ESEE. Through 2 ways.

First, let’s proceed with a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote Shopping in Greece in a targeted manner.

And secondly, in the logic of our Greekend campaign which had gone viral – visitors for three days in our cities, having fun, shopping, visiting our museums – to see the EOT how a targeted campaign could be made towards this direction”.

The President of ESEE Giorgos Karanikas emphasized that the announcement of a joint campaign of the EOT with ESEE to strengthen the visibility of Greek trade through tourism satisfies a perennial request of the commercial world of the country.

He noted that the goal is to succeed in transitioning to a sustainable model throughout the tourism “ecosystem” which will include all the other sectors that are around it, such as trade, agri-food, the creative economy, etc.

Especially for trade, he emphasized that the bet is to give “tools” to small and very small commercial enterprises to sell their products remotely to foreign tourists, after their departure from our country.