The messages for the current tourism year are optimistic for Greek tourism, as reflected in the largest international tourism exhibition, ITB 2024 in Berlin, which this year attracted more than 100,000 visitors and 5,500 exhibitors from 170 countries.
With Greece actively participating in this annual rendezvous of the global tourism industry, EOT took the lead in contacts with international tourism players while Greece’s business tourism world made numerous business contacts.
Fragakis: The foundations have been laid for the development of our tourism in the coming years as well
Giving an impression of the actions of the EOT at ITB 2024, the General Secretary, Dimitris Fragakis, emphasizes to APE-MPE, that the ITB 2024 exhibition was extremely successful for our country. In fact, he notes that the high demand that Greece has this year from the European markets has been confirmed as well as the very satisfactory flow of bookings for the next period in our popular destinations.
In fact, for 2024, he expresses his optimism for the development of the tourism year, saying the following: “I am optimistic for 2024 and I think that with the good work done by all those involved in the tourism sector, we have laid solid foundations for the development of our tourism and in the coming years”. In the meantime, he expresses his belief that there will be an extension of the season, stating the following: “In our meetings with the airlines and tour operators, we also had the opportunity to establish that the season starts early, while everything indicates that we will succeed in extending it and in the fall”, states the general secretary of the EOT. In fact, it focuses on the two important agreements signed with Emirates and Mastercard’s Innovation Hub, which highlights the leading role of our country in the tourism industry, explains Mr. Fragakis.
G. Hatzis: Pre-bookings have increased by 10% compared to last year
Reflecting the estimates of the industry bodies for the new tourist season, it should be emphasized that the president of POX, Yiannis Hatzis, who gave the “present” to ITB, emphasized to others that Greece seems to be constantly gaining ground in the international tourism market. Increases in pre-bookings in some areas are even approaching 10%. Although more pre-bookings mean less revenue in good seasons, we are happy that visitors are voting so strongly for Greece, he said in his statements.
K. Svynou: The South Aegean will also star in 2024 – Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu stand out
Regarding the Greek destinations that will star in 2024, Konstantina Svynou, president of the Institute of Tourism Research and Forecasts and Prefect of Kon-Nissyros, notes to APE-MPE that our country continues to experience great demand in the field of tourism, with the South Aegean stars. Everything shows that in terms of arrivals we will have a positive year and why not a new record. Among the Greek destinations, Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Corfu stand out, as he says. Especially on the island of Kos, the traditional markets of England and Germany are moving with a double-digit increase in scheduled airline seats, while the Dutch market is showing a slight stagnation in terms of booking rate (with an increased level of pre-bookings though). In fact, the first flights to the island of Hippocrates will land on March 24 from Cologne and Dusseldorf with Eurowings, followed by flights from Gatwick on March 31, to slowly start the tourist season.
Crete: Full speed for a new record in 2024, but there are also concerns with the international travel organizer FTI
In support of the above, the president of the Hoteliers’ Union of Heraklion, Nikos Chalkiadakis, who in turn was present at the international tourist exhibition, noted that indeed Crete, the flagship of Greek tourism, will move very dynamically on the 24th, with the first messages to speak for themselves. and for a new record of arrivals on the island. Moreover, as he says, pre-bookings are also moving upwards in relation to 2023. However, there is widespread concern among industry professionals about what will happen next with the fate of the international travel organizer FTI, whose financial problems are troubling Cretan businessmen, as the Mr. Chalkiadakis. The German tour operator in question brings thousands of tourists to Crete as well, while cooperating with many hotels, with all that this entails with their debts to them. In any case, the assessment of Nikos Chalkiadakis is that ultimately there will be no problem with the flow of Germans to Crete.
The challenges of 2024 go through the wallets of Europeans
Staying with the challenges of the new year, Alexandros Angelopoulos (CEO of the Aldemar Resorts hotel group who is a member of the XEE and a teaching professor at the Piraeus University’s Master’s Degree – Department of Sustainability) conveys to APE-MPE his reflection on the development of this year’s tourism year, which lies in the financial narrowness of European households.
Focusing on the most important market for Greece, the German one, Mr. Angelopoulos underlines that there is a decline in demand for Greece and explains that in order for it to recover, new offers will be required from the hoteliers. In fact, he recalls that last year, a record year for Greek tourism, the five-star hotels dropped their prices in order to achieve high occupancy. At the same time, the reflection of Mr. Angelopoulos also includes his anxiety about the development of 4 large Tour Operators, which, as he says, are looking for buyers. However, for Mr. Angelopoulos, the optimistic scenario for 2024 will be the achievement of last year’s tourism figures. “The tourism model is gradually changing in the direction that the world will ask for smaller accommodations, more pristine destinations and above all they will ask to have more control over their consumption”, underlines Mr. Angelopoulos referring to the next day of Greek tourism.
Continental destinations – Volos airport must be put on the map of European airlines
The air of optimism that exists in 2024 for the island destinations of the country seems not to touch all the mainland destinations of Greece, with the president of the Karpenisi Hotel Association Sofia Flega noting to APE-MPE that Europeans still do not know all the corners of Greece . Despite the significant strides that have been made in the field of projection, there is much room for projection. With Mrs. Flega present in Berlin, she notes that the goal of their presence was to put Volos airport on the map of Europe’s airlines. However, the first messages for Evia are very encouraging, as the president of the Hoteliers’ Union of Edipsos, Theodoris Roumeliotis, tells APE-MBE. From Easter onwards, the occupancy of the accommodation will go red, as there are already closed contracts from the Balkan countries and especially from Serbia and Romania, while the social tourism programs, the Evia pass etc. will give a boost to domestic tourism.
From the above, it becomes clear that the Greek tourism industry is not only warming up its engines for 2024, but is stepping on the gas in order for the country to welcome the large tourist flows from international markets. The large hotel units start on the islands from the beginning of April, while it is typical that Costa Navarino has already opened its doors and welcomes international visitors, the occupancy being at high levels.
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