V. Kikilias: Increased by 3.2% compared to May 2019 tourist traffic

“The first elements of this year’s tourist season are particularly encouraging,” said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias in an interview with Mega TV.

As Mr. Kikilias noted, after more than two years of pandemic, in the midst of multiple challenges with a war raging in the heart of Europe, with an intensifying global energy and inflation crisis, the Greek tourism product has proven and is proving its resilience, which – as he said – is due to the proper preparation and hard work that preceded all the previous months. “Nothing we see at the moment has happened by chance. And because I like to talk in numbers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority, overseas passenger arrivals for the month of May show an increase of 3.2 %, in relation to May 2019 “, the Minister of Tourism pointed out characteristically.

Mr. Kikilias referred to the implementation of major infrastructure projects throughout the country related to tourism – with the use of resources from the Recovery Fund – citing the example of Patmos and the request of the municipal authority for a new port for the cruise . “And this is why? Why, the arrivals of cruise ships on the island exceed 285 this year, when in 2019, a milestone year for Greek tourism, the arrivals of cruise ships in Patmos were 157. We are launching the necessary actions and the appropriate solution will be found in order to We can have a port that will welcome the cruise to Patmos, and I insist on the infrastructure, because tourism is not something that happens “automatically”. Our goal is a sustainable tourism model with upgrading of all our services and better quality. “These, after all, are the demands of the new era, in a very competitive environment”, stressed the Minister of Tourism.

At the same time, Mr. Kikilias presented the new axes of the “Tourism for All” program implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and is going to “run” within the first week of July. As he said, this is a program of 30 million euros – 10 million euros more than last year – which concerns more than 200,000 beneficiaries, with automatic – non-bureaucratic – procedures, both for the beneficiaries and for the compensation of the providers . “The program provides for an intangible digital card, amounting to 150 euros, which each beneficiary will be able to use for their stay in any hotel or accommodation he wishes, whenever and however he wishes, until June 2023,” the Minister noted. Tourism.

According to the Minister of Tourism, this program will “run” in parallel with the other two programs: the “Social Tourism” program of DYPA -a total of 35 million euros- and the digital pass that has been provided specifically for all those who choose to This year they are vacationing in northern Evia and Samos, amounting to up to 150 euros and up to 300 euros respectively, for each beneficiary. In total, the Greek Government gives this year for all three programs – “Tourism for All”, “Social Tourism”, a special digital pass for northern Evia and Samos – 70 million euros. These are three programs that support Greeks who do not “They may or may not have, for three programs that support Greeks who find it difficult to vacation. We are and will continue to be next to the average Greek family. We are and will continue to be next to Greek society,” said Mr. Kikilias.

Finally, regarding the intensifying aggressive rhetoric of Turkey and whether it affects tourism, the Minister of Tourism said: “Greece promotes the good neighborhood and prosperity of the region. In Mytilene, Kos, Samos and “In Chios and Rhodes, Turkish tourists vote for Greece. They leave foreign exchange, visit our islands and enjoy their beauties. Peace and prosperity help both the economy and tourism. And that is the most important thing.”