“Our tourism economy is the real backbone of the Greek economy as a whole,” said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, stressing that “tourism is not a matter for the few, it is a matter for the many.”
During the discussion of the Budget, the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias referred to the effects of the global health crisis caused by Covid 19 for the third consecutive year, saying that, like all countries, Greece is constantly updating its policies in tourism. He pointed out that although tourism was one of the first social activities to be suspended worldwide, “Greece in 2020 and much more in 2021, showed remarkable resilience as a favorite destination for foreign visitors.”
In particular, he said that “travel traffic by September increased by more than 90% compared to 2020, travel receipts by 140%, while the travel balance showed a surplus of 8.033 billion euros, 5 billion more than the corresponding surplus of 2020 and When the year ends, we will see that we have far exceeded 10 billion Euros, reminding that the initial forecasts spoke of revenues in the order of 5-6 billion Euros.
He also noted that the average per capita expenditure of each visitor, this year increased by more than 20% with each spending more than 600 euros. Thus, creating new jobs for Greek citizens and secondly, increasing income for all professions that are directly or indirectly related to the tourism product.
Regarding the goals for the next period, Mr. Kikilias said: “we are going to a total restart of Tourism. That is why from today our campaign for winter tourism is running abroad. The campaign for domestic tourism will follow and after for the city break, starting from Athens and Thessaloniki.The summer season this year will start in March for those destinations that can, mainly due to the climate, support it.And with great optimism in our contacts with all airlines, tour operators, cruise companies, we are seeing an increase in availability, flights, itineraries, destinations “.
Analyzing why foreign visitors choose us, he said that “the first factor is vaccination, the second is the belief that they are coming to a safe European country, the third factor is the different tourist experience the country offers: Hundreds of small tourist paradises, scattered on dozens of islands, “Hundreds of seaside villages, small villages, taverns, family units, preserved settlements, luxury five-star units and extremely gourmet restaurants, in compliance with all sanitary measures, have created an extremely attractive grid built on the human measure and not on the mass.”
Speaking about the huge advantage of the hundreds of different destinations in Greece, he noted that “the small, friendly, picturesque or luxurious became safe for those who reasonably seek conditions as controlled as possible. And we must realize this and include it in the broader strategy As we have already included the promotion and promotion of lesser known destinations, the extension of the tourist season, Thessaloniki as a home port and hub, the project Digital Nomads and above all the big goal, the sustainability with respect for the environment – green and blue tourism “.
The Minister of Tourism, underlined that in Greece the chain of people who support and create the tourist product, the brand name “Greece”, fifth in the world, starts from the farmer in the field and reaches as the air traffic controller at the airport and from the pie of mom in the family tavern, as the expansion of 5G in the country. Tourism is not a matter for the few, it is a matter for the many. It is a difficult, complex but also extremely dynamic industry of millions of Greeks who converge together and create a leading global product. And all of them, many of them are the real backbone of the Tourism Economy and I would tell you of the Greek economy as a whole. He reminded that “behind the numbers in the growth rates are the people who create it, hard workers, self-employed, small and medium enterprises that have been tested hard for 10 years”
To the uncertainties, he stressed, we must respond with clear decisive policies that will have only one goal: The restoration of the power of the so-called middle class, of many, who over time have created and are creating real wealth and value in the place, with their work, their businesses, their products, their studies and skills, their hard work and dedication. We must invest in them to support them, but also to create a state with strong economic bases. ”
Referring to the Recovery Mechanism, he said that it is “an opportunity that, if used and implemented properly, without delays and with a deep sense of responsibility towards the real beneficiaries, ie the Greek citizens, we can say that as a political class, we have finally justified the trust of this world.” which has been tested hard for years “.
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Source From: Capital
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