of Vicky Kourlibini
The rates of increase in tourist revenues compared to the previous two years are impressive, while even more encouraging for the course of this season is that the gap is closing more and more compared to 2019, the milestone year for Greek tourism with more than 18 billion revenue and more than 30 million visitors from abroad.
According to the Bank of Greece in the four months non-resident traveler arrivals increased by 463% and related receipts by 577% compared to 2021, representing 73% and 86.6% of the respective levels of 2019. Only in April, non-resident traveler arrivals increased by 884% and the relevant receipts by 1,000% in relation to 2021.
In particular, revenues now reach 1.1 billion euros from just 165 million in 2021 and 607 million in 2020. In April, revenues were 647 million from 59 in April 2021 and only 14 million in April 2020 .
“Since last autumn, we have set a double goal. The extension of the tourist season and the increase of tourism revenues. In this context, we have moved on to all our contacts and agreements that we have implemented with the major international market players.
As I have repeated many times, we will make a fund at the end of the season. However, the 20% increase in travel receipts for April 2022 compared to April 2019, according to the Bank of Greece, is a measurable result of the team work done so far.
The increase by almost 100 million of travel receipts compared to 2019 for April, is the additional dividend of Greek tourism, which ends up in every Greek family.
We continue the effort every day until the end of the season “noted the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias on the occasion of the publication of the tourist performance of the four months by the BoG.
Tourism entrepreneurs estimate that based on bookings and the course of arrivals, this year’s revenue could reach over 15 billion, or more, if the tourist season lasts. May also went very well in terms of traffic, while it is considered that the summer numbers will reach those of 2019.
The airports took off
At the same time, it increased by 377.7% the first five months of 2022 passenger traffic according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The total number of passengers handled amounted to 14 million, showing an increase of 377.7% compared to the corresponding period of 2021 where 2.9 million passengers were handled.
In terms of flights at the country’s airports amounted to 139,861, of which 68,352 were domestic and 71,509 international, recording an increase of 115.8%, compared to the corresponding period of 2021 where 64,823 flights were operated.
Comparing the statistics with the five months January – May 2019 when the flights were 147,662, in the first five months of this year there was a drop of 5.3% in aircraft traffic.
In the total passenger traffic that was 16.3 million in the five months January – May 2019, for the same period of 2022 there was a decline of 14%.
According to the above data, this year’s total passenger traffic of the first five months of 2022 approached 86% of the passenger traffic of the first five months of 2019.
Source: Capital
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