B. Kikilias: We are going for a permanent tourist season

Her Vicky Kurlibini

Tourism Minister Mr. Vassilis Kikilias sees a permanent tourist season. Speaking to “K”, he emphasizes that although a fund for tourist revenues will be made at the end of the year, the indications are that we are living one of the most successful tourist summers.

The tourism performance so far shows that the gap has closed compared to 2019. You have mentioned that the fund will be at the end of the year, but do you think we will surpass 2019 in terms of revenue?

I realize that the comparison with the “hazy”, I would say, 2019 is a reality, but I will tell you that when on March 7th I welcomed the first direct flight from the USA, earlier than ever, to “Eleftherios Venizelos”, few believed that the Greece will have a successful tourist season. It was the early days of the war in Ukraine, the pandemic was continuing and the energy crisis was causing unrest worldwide. But we have worked hard and collectively since last fall to get to where we are now.

And I remind you that the tourism revenue budget was about 15 billion. So we will add to the country’s coffers every extra euro, because we know that this will give impetus to its development.

Indeed, the gap compared to 2019 is not only closing, but in some areas of the country, arrivals and travel revenues have increased compared to the pre-pandemic period.

We will make a fund at the end of the year, but I am optimistic that the results will be very positive, especially in terms of income, which is what is required in the times we live in. In fact, UBS upgraded its estimate for growth in Greece from 4% to 5.7%, with tourism expected to be the big driver of GDP.

We entered into agreements with American airlines for 63 direct flights/week from the USA to “El. Venizelos”, as a result of which from the beginning of spring Athens was filled with American tourists, we attracted high spenders travelers who spend a lot and whose vacations are multi-day events, we “lit up” new destinations in order for as many areas as possible to benefit from tourism, we invested in alternative tourism and opened up new markets. The closing of the gap, therefore, is due to our strategic planning, which paid off, it did not happen by chance. As you can see, had we not made these moves in time, the multiple crises of 2022 would have kept arrivals and revenues down.

Businessmen predict that next year will be difficult because of energy costs, but also because Asian markets are opening up. Do you think that Greek tourism will maintain its momentum and under what conditions?

As I mentioned above, this year’s success is due to strategic moves made with major market players at the right time. Tourism has evolved into a highly competitive product, while travelers now have high demands in terms of the quality of the services provided. Therefore, in order to maintain its momentum, efforts to upgrade should be continuous, timely initiatives should be taken, there should be flexibility and quick reflexes – I cite the example of the war in Ukraine and the door-to-door policy that we implemented in order to to fill the void of Russian and Ukrainian tourists with travelers from Balkan countries – and to always be one step ahead, as the right timing plays a decisive role. Certainly every parameter of a possible escalation of the energy crisis concerns us. But, as you know from the Ministry of Health, I have learned to work in difficult times.

Greece now has the durability of a unique experience for all months of the year. Regarding the opening of the Asian market, Greece is a blessed place of incomparable beauty, which offers the visitor unique experiences that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. In addition, in our country there has always been a large flow of travelers from Asia, which we did not have this year, so the opening of this particular market can work competitively to a certain extent, but at the same time it will also benefit us.

Will this season last until the end of the year? What are the messages you receive from tour operators? Is it targeting specific markets?

It is not by chance that we will make a fund at the end of 2022. Extending the tourist season was one of the main goals we set from the beginning, and as far as the start of the season is concerned, we have achieved it. We believe that we will manage to arrive as late as possible and at its end, as long as we do not have unexpected developments that will also affect tourism. The messages we receive from the tour operators are very encouraging, there is a demand for travel packages for the whole autumn, even for December. And because, as I told you before, it is crucial to always be one step ahead, we have long since started contacts with the aim of attracting Northern European and German pensioners to spend these months in Greece, where the winter is sweet and the energy needs much smaller compared to their countries. In this way they will save the money they would pay for heating if they stayed at home and at the same time they will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauties of our country and get to know Greek hospitality.

What will be the next steps to upgrade the tourism product and attract investment?

A big bet for 2023 will be the development of sustainable tourism by taking advantage of the available financial tools (RRF, NSRF) in order to upgrade our tourism product. We have to preserve the unique identity of our country and protect the environment, not only to upgrade tourism, but also because it is our duty to our children and future generations.