Athens tourism growth gave local enterprises 171-mln-euro boost last year

Enterprises in Athens saw an additional 171 million euros last year thanks to the 550,000 more nights tourists spent in the Greek capital during 2014 than in the previous year, according to the head of local hoteliers, Alexandros Vassilikos.

Noting the close link between the course of the city’s economy and the development of tourism activity, Vassilikos added that two-thirds of the extra revenues, or 89 million euros, went toward commerce and catering, while 43 million went to hotels, according to a survey conducted by the hotel association.

It also found that three-quarters of tourists would like to see stores open on Sundays.