“In the first quarter of 2022, revenues in the tourism product increased by 342% compared to the same period last year,” said Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias in an interview with ANT1 and the show “Good Morning Greece”, with George Papadaki.
As Mr. Kikilias underlined, the incoming travel traffic is also increased this year by 295% compared to last year. He spoke with specific examples from well-known tourist destinations, such as the islands of the southern and southeastern Aegean, where – as he said – in May this year, both tourist traffic and revenue, recorded an average increase of 10% compared with the corresponding performance of May 2019.
“For June alone, we are expecting 500 cruise ships in Greece. These are data that show that there is indeed a strong tourist flow, which in fact is increasing week by week,” said the Minister of Tourism.
Mr. Kikilias also referred to the record of arrivals of American tourists in our country. “We have direct flights from America to” Eleftherios Venizelos “for over half a million travelers, with 9 flights a day, from March 7. In other words, we are talking about 63 flights a week directly from the USA, not including transit flights. “These are ‘high spenders’ travelers, who leave a lot of income in shops, hotels, in the city, in the country. And you can ask the shopkeepers in Plaka about this,” he stressed. In fact, as the Minister of Tourism added, the tourist flow from the USA is so strong that the companies themselves put bigger planes, as there are no vacancies until the end of the summer season.
Indicative of the positive messages from tour operators abroad is the fact that contracts are already being made for the summer of 2023, said Mr. Kikilias. “Easy Jet is already doing it. Jet 2 is already doing it, which shows how strong the brand Greece is. Let us not overlook the fact that our country is the number 5 tourist brand in the world”, he pointed out characteristically.
Mr. Kikilias developed the strategy of the Ministry of Tourism that was followed, all this time, with the main goal – as he said – to “enlighten” more and more new destinations throughout the country. “Currently, the fullness in Halki, Symi, Astypalea, Kastelorizo ​​is extremely high. We support alternative destinations. We gave impetus to the cruise. Only in the port of Thessaloniki, the increase in cruise, at the moment, exceeds 250%. We strengthen “The tourist product even in non-traditional destinations of the country. And this is because, we want the dividend from tourism to reach the average Greek family, in every corner of our country”, said the Minister of Tourism.
Finally, regarding the “Tourism for All” program, which starts on July 1st, Mr. Kikilias stressed that this is a program with a new form and structure and with almost zero bureaucracy. “Last year, 20 million euros were spent on the program, while this year 30 million euros are available. The program is valid for the next five years and the voucher of 150 euros will be available to any beneficiary – until the end of the year – where he wishes “, either for the accommodation, or for the tickets, or for the shops of health interest”, said the Minister of Tourism.
Source: Capital
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