Greek destinations with easy access claim an increased share in tourist traffic

Greek destinations are claiming an increased share in tourist traffic this year, characterized by their proximity to Athens and access by car and Ferry Boat. Specifically, foreign visitors, but mainly Greek visitors, give a “vote of confidence” to the Argosaronic Islands, North Evia, but also the Peloponnese, and specifically Elafonissos, which this year from Easter to October is the star with high occupancy in accommodations.

At the same time, the destinations of Argosaronic as well as North Evia are key destinations for short-day getaways for Greek visitors, as regional agencies emphasize in APE-MPE. The high costs of travel have given impetus to the destinations in question, with the president of the Argosaronic hoteliers, Stavros Kalamakis, noting to APE-MPE that this year Aegina is a “social outlet” for those who cannot visit other destinations.

Aegina: expected to reach 1.8 million visitors in 2022

It is typical that this year Aegina is expected to reach 1.8 million visitors this year, 300,000 more than in 2019, as Mr. Kalamakis reports. Of course, most arrivals concern day visitors, as with a ticket of 10.50 euros, Athenians visit the beaches of Argosaronicos, as Mr. Kalamakis emphasizes. In the meantime, he notes that occupancy is also very good for the island’s accommodations, which is expected to reach 100% at the peak of the season.

North Evia: attraction for Balkan visitors

As far as North Evia is concerned, the president of the Association of Hotels and Baths of Edipsos, Theodoros Roumeliotis, expresses to APE – BPE his optimism for the development of this year’s tourist season as far as North Evia is concerned. At this point, he focuses on the 150 euro voucher that will be given to the beneficiaries, but also on the social tourism that will run and bring new visitors to the area, as Mr. Roumeliotis mentions. The goal for this year is for the accommodation occupancy to reach 80%, as Thodoris Roumeliotis points out to APE – MEP. The hospitality portfolio in Evia includes approximately 20,000 beds, of which 12,000 are hotel beds and the rest are rental accommodations. It should be emphasized that the Municipality in question has the largest part of the hotel potential of the wider region, as it is already known for its thermal baths. As far as the human geography of foreign visitors is concerned, the markets of the Balkans are the protagonists. At the same time, the region has lost the entire Russian market, as the general manager of Thermae Sylla Spa, Yiannis Koutrodimos, points out to APE – MEP, and he points out that the region is special for its beneficial thermal baths, a pole of attraction for Greeks and international visitors.

Elafonissos: Bed only from cancellation on the island

As far as Elafonissos is concerned, the mayor of the island, Efi Liarou, reported to APE-MPE that Greek and foreign visitors have been flooding the island since Easter. It is typical that while Elafonissos was the star for weekend getaways, this year visitors are also visiting during the week. In fact, he speaks of an occupancy that reaches 100% and mentions that now only by cancellation can one look for an empty bed on the island. This year, for the first time, as Mrs. Liarou reports, visitors will be able to take a guided tour of the archaeological site in Pavlopetri.

The holy monasteries are a tourist attraction

In the meantime, all 3 of these destinations expect an extension and increase in tourist traffic, as they are also recognized as key pilgrimage destinations, especially regarding Aegina and North Evia. In this direction, Elafonisos inaugurated the religious church of Agios Spyridon in a special event, while already in North Evia, the church of Agios Ioannis the Russian, but also of St. David are a pole of attraction for visitors from the Balkans throughout the year . The picture of visitors in Aegina due to the monastery of Agios Nektarios on the island of Argosaronicos is similar.