V. Kikilias: We promote winter tourism – Greece is a safe destination

The extension of the tourist season and the support of winter destinations and the city break is a strategic goal of the Ministry of Tourism, as stated by the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias in his speech on ERT morning show and estimated that this goal will be achieved.

In fact, he reiterated that in a few days the EOT campaign for winter destinations in all the Regions of the country will be released, which, as he said, this is done for the first time in history. He then mentioned that there will be a campaign for the city break (short-term holidays), in Athens, Thessaloniki and the other cities. “We consider it very important to support 12-month-old hotels,” he added.

Referring to yesterday’s decision of ECOFIN to reduce VAT to 30% on VAT on all islands, the minister stressed that this is very important news and gives added value to the tourist product. For the new year, he pointed out that safety will again be the number one prerequisite for traveling in 2022.

“All countries compete very hard, but we have the ‘pole position’ (first place) due to our behavior and organization in the health sector for the last two years,” the minister said.

Addressing the professionals in the field, Vassilis Kikilias noted the following: “I recognize that the tourism professionals had a difficult time in the previous two years of the pandemic. Nevertheless, I am glad to see that they follow the protocols, the health rules. And here is the secret We have made our image to the outside world as a safe destination and that is why we were chosen by visitors, tourists, travelers and in 2020 that we did not have vaccines and in 2021 that while the forecasts for the revenues in tourism were 5-6 billion euros, we have already exceeded 10 billion euros “.

At this point, the minister focused on the data of the third quarter of 2021 provided by ELSTAT, emphasizing that it is not only the data. “We are practically interested in what ends up in the business, in the average Greek family, what money is circulating in the market and how all these professionals move and give added value to our economy. The booking rates fill us with satisfaction and we expect even greater mobility. And we work “Hard for 2022. All this is not accidental. It does not happen by itself. It is done with effort and effort, like all the things that are worth living,” said Mr. Kikilias.