THE tourism returns a dividend to Greek society stressed, among other things, the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias in an interview with Real FM. After mentioning that the Bank of Greece announced 10.65 billion euros in tourism revenues for 2021when 6 billion euros were budgeted, “the Ministry of Tourism is the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Development and returns a dividend to Greek society. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs in the professions around tourism. “The currency that comes from travelers and tourists in the Greek economy is circulating”, he noted and added the following:
“It is crucial and important both politically and ideologically, because our party is a party that ideally expresses the values ​​of the social majority. The profits, the dividend and the improvement of the quality of life must go back to the Greek society, to the Greek people. “This is radical liberalism, the ability to support and strengthen the broad masses, those who cannot, those who do not.” Focusing on promoting the country, he stressed that for the first time this year, ΕΟΤ and Ministry of Tourism they campaign all year round, he even added that the campaign for the city break has already gone viral.
Regarding the cruise, the TPA and the PPA announced for the ports of Thessaloniki and Piraeus respectively 189% and 118% increase in the cruise, said Mr. Kikilias and added the following: “And not only our big brand-excellent destinations, ie Santorini, Mykonos or home ports, such as Thessaloniki and Piraeus. I read in Real News on Sunday “New destinations Gythio, Spetses, Kavala, Folegandros, Symi, Skiathos, Skopelos, Parga, Pylos, Andros, Naxos, Samos, Ios, Kalymnos and Hydra will be just some of the new destinations we will cruise to this year “. Therefore, increased incomes for islanders for professionals “.
Referring to crisis in Ukraine underlined the following: “First of all, and from my experience in dealing with the pandemic, I want to recommend to everyone calmness, reflection and analysis of the situation and fewer words. I see two points of global instability that we take into account. The first is if and when there will be any other mutation and how the pandemic will develop. And the second has to do with the crisis in Ukraine which has two axes. One has to do with visitors-travelers from Russia and Ukraine. Let me remind you that before the pandemic, these two countries brought in close to half a billion in revenue.
And the second axis has to do with the impact on the energy sector, which I have asked both the services of the ministry and the ministry of finance to take into account. That is, the prices of airline tickets, the increased energy costs for hotels and how this will affect changes in prices and packages worldwide. But this is a point. It is the imprint of the image of the last ten days of February with all that is happening. “And I would like to wait and see how this whole story unfolds.”
Looking at new tourist year The Minister stressed that the tourism market gives a vote of confidence in Greece, noting the following:
“One country after another is slowly removing protocols or conditions in order for its citizens to travel or visit other countries. We built our success and branding of country over the health insurance. This was the extraction of the success of the first phase of the pandemic, which turned back and was credited to Greek tourism as well. There is cooperation of all the relevant ministries and we will not do anything that does not ensure the regularity in our country and horizontally the synergy with all those who are responsible for the supreme good, which is the health of the citizens. We have already started, as you can see, gradually and we are moving in movements that give a “green light” worldwide to travelers to Greece. For example, with the European digital Covid Passport, vaccinated people do not need to take tests in order to come to the country. The same goes for the partner countries that are compatible with the European digital certificate, which is another 32. The same goes for America, Canada and Australia. It is a huge vote of confidence for our country that on March 7 comes the first direct flight from America, on April 2 the first direct flight from Canada and that the Australian ambassador announced to me that this year will be the top year of visitors from Australia to Greece, after two years that Australia was closed. It was officially announced, through the Russian embassy, ​​the increase of flights to Greece from Russia for tourist destinations in 2022. Obviously this crisis concerns us like everyone else, we do not want to go blind. There is this tradition anyway of Russian visitors and tourists especially for northern Greece, Mount Athos, Halkidiki and other parts of the country. And Ukrainian travelers and tourists, too. We will wait to see how the situation develops in Ukraine, which is not good at this time. “And I think at the level of governments there will be a formula that can support this situation.”
Finally, for the tourist infrastructure, he stressed that along with the demand and the income comes the obligation of the state to invest in its infrastructure. It is no coincidence that 25% of the country’s GDP comes from tourism. That is why a very large part of the NSRF and the RRF are targeted and channeled through the Ministry of Tourism in infrastructure, marinas, ports, their upgrade, ski resorts, winter destinations, summer destinations, as he said.
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