Greece is preparing for a tourist season almost back to pre-Covid levels, with airlines hovering over flights and people hungry for travel avoiding inflation and other deterrents, according to Bloomberg.
Demand is strong in Britain and Germany, the largest source markets for visits to Greece, while the Nordic countries will produce significant momentum, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said in an interview in Athens.
British Airways, Ryanair Holdings Plc, EasyJet Plc and Jet2 Plc are looking for more flights than in 2019, when the number of tourists reached a record 31 million and Air France and the Transavia industry will have a strong presence said Kikilias.
There is also an influx of long-distance travelers, with the three major US airlines carrying about 3,000 people a week from Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, many to Greek cruise ships. Direct flights from Canada start on April 2 and visits from Australia hit a record, while Qatar Airways is looking for flights to islands such as Mykonos and Santorini.
Tourism accounted for one-fifth of the Greek economy before the overthrow of Covid-19. Vacation revenue last year was 60% of the € 18 billion in 2019 ($ 20 billion). The government estimated that the recovery could reach 80% this year in a forecast issued shortly before Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
While new sales stopped immediately after the invasion, there were almost no cancellations, except for Russians who represented a small number of visitors, and from April onwards bookings are gaining ground, Kikilias said.
The suspension of Chinese travel amid prolonged pandemic restrictions could ease the second half, the minister said, citing information from China’s ambassador to Greece.
The government hopes the 2022 tourism season will help boost its efforts to boost visitor spending, Kikilias said, following progress last year as the average rose to 600 euros from 520 euros.
“Our strategy is no longer so much about the number of visitors, but about upgrading to a higher quality tourism product that will generate more revenue,” he said.
Source: Capital
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