Tourism: Freezing continues at the rate of bookings

By Vicky Kourlimbini

The pace of new bookings has been delayed by the turmoil created by the Russo-Ukrainian war – a “freeze” that continues to this day, according to hotel businessmen, but to a lesser extent than at the beginning of the attack.

According to data from the Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasting, between March 14 and 20, 87% was the percentage of open-air hotels that were open, while occupancy was 36%. Therefore, the occupancy rate with reduction in all hotels in continuous operation was 28%, while the average price of a double room was 50 euros.

Speaking to Capital.gr The president of ITEP and president of the Hoteliers Association of Kos, Konstantina Svynou, confirms the freezing in the pace of new hotel bookings, something that would not have happened if there was no insecurity and uncertainty due to the war.

The season starts timidly

The season, as he explains, has started timidly and the first tourists are already landing in Kos, mainly mainly from the United Kingdom and Germany with Easyjet and Ryanair flights. Conclusions, however, can not yet be drawn, as the picture of bookings is shaped by the market. For example, there is a decline in demand from countries such as Germany and Poland.

However, she appears optimistic for this season, saying that if there is normalcy, in terms of arrivals, tourism will be able to reach pre-pandemic levels. It is reminded that in 2019, the record year for Greek tourism, we had over 30 million visitors from abroad.

It takes effort

“We remain optimistic even in the face of the ‘perfect storm.’ But optimism does not mean naivety. It does not mean sitting cross-legged waiting for solutions to rain. He stressed that in order for tourism businesses to be viable the next day, their support should be continued by extending loan, tax and insurance obligations “, noted the president of the Panhellenic Hoteliers Federation, Grigoris Tassios, a guest of the Business Council. STEK) on “Tourism: The Next Day”.

“Waiting for better days does not make sense, since only our own effort can bring the best days. The huge upheavals and the great difficulties, not only should not become an alibi of stagnation but instead should be a lever of acceleration,” Tasios and referred to the positive momentum for its utilization and specifically to the resources that exceed 72 billion for the coming years through the National Plan “Greece 2.0” and the Recovery Fund, the new NSRF and new tools, such as the New Development Law.