“THE tourism increases the income of the Greek family, offsetting it accuracy due energy crisis». This was stressed, among other things, by the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias in an interview on OPEN’s “Now What Happens” show. “We work for the middle Greek family, the middle class, the popular strata. This is the nature of the Ministry of Tourism. It is a development, economic, investment ministry. Large investments and infrastructure projects are coming that give great dynamics to Greek tourism. The average Greek family, the small and medium business in Greece is waiting to be strengthened and stimulated by the extension of the tourist product and the opportunity for everyone to see the income increase in their pockets. It is a compensation and in fact it is not a Greek phenomenon, nor only a European one, it is global. “In a difficult time of a global energy crisis, I believe that in 2022 tourism is the one that will pay a dividend and support the Greek family,” he said.
In terms of income of 2022 The minister stated that “while in 2021, revenues from tourism had been budgeted at 5-6 billion euros. Finally, according to the Bank of Greece, revenues are 10.4 billion euros for 2021 and the outlook for 2022 is very good. This money goes to the average Greek family, which has the small and medium business, from the rooms to the small accommodation and the small hotel on our islands or in the mountain destinations, the shops of health interest or a commercial business in the tourist areas, those that carry the world. It is a huge industry. It is the locomotive of the Greek economy, because it contributes 25% of the country’s GDP. “It is our popular economy and it concerns everyone,” said the minister.
In the meantime he also referred to promotion campaign of Of Greece emphasizing that for the first time EOT and the Ministry of Tourism are campaigning all year round. “In the winter, for the first time in history, we promoted Greece for winter destinations. And now we are campaigning abroad for the city break, ie for the Friday weekends in the 12-month hotels. Demand is very high, because after 2-2.5 years of pandemic people want to travel. We urge European citizens to come to Athens and Thessaloniki and do greekend instead of a weekend. A campaign that has already gone viral and will be extended to other major cities in Greece “, the minister noted.
Finally, the data from the agreements concluded by the ministry are very encouraging bookings Mr. Kikilias added, adding: “The CEO of TUI announced that” out of 1.5 million travelers, we will bring 3 million in 2022 “.
I met with the US Ambassador to the Department of Tourism and we announced together that the first flight from America will be on March 7, earlier than ever, with 14 direct flights a day, starting in April. We announced our agreement with the Canadian ambassador, with the first direct flight from Canada to Greece on April 2. Yesterday, the ambassador of Greek origin, Australia, came and informed me that 2022 will probably be the top year in which Australians, expatriates and non-expatriates will travel to our country. We will open in early March. We have an increase of cruise in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece by 187% and in the port of Piraeus 123%. January bookings for the summer of 2022 are 20% higher than the corresponding period of 2019, while February is going very well. “All of this is very encouraging and important – both psychologically and substantially,” concluded Mr. Kikilias.
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