A growing number of businesses from many different sectors are also turning their attention to tourism in a bid to increase their profits through the strong dynamics presented by the sector.
REIMAGINE TOURISM IN GREECE
Greece’s highland destinations report reservation levels on a par with three years ago, and in some cases even higher, for the national holiday weekend of October 28.
As a record year for tourism comes to a close, local communities are considering whether their infrastructure will be able to withstand another such test.
The Radisson Hotel Group is considering the expansion of its hotel portfolio in Greece from five to seven units, adding two in the center of Athens.
Greek hotel group Sani/Ikos has secured the entry into its equity capital of one of the largest international institutional investors, Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC.
According to data from the Bank of Greece, receipts in July 2022 amounted to 3.723 billion euros, marginally increased by 0.56% from July 2019, a month that held the previous record with receipts of €3.702 billion.
In August passenger traffic from abroad remained strong at Greece’s 14 regional airports that Fraport Greece manages, following a remarkably robust July.
The strong demand from Germany for trips to Greece, along with the severity of the energy crisis and the low winter temperatures in Northern Europe create the conditions for the formation of an “air bridge” between the two countries in the coming months.
The prospect of the tourism season lengthening has been confirmed by the figures the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) has issued regarding flying activity during the next six weeks.
The decision to allow cafes, bars and restaurants to take up more sidewalk space than they were licensed for was, undoubtedly, one of the worst measures adopted in the pandemic.
Hotel occupancy rates in Athens were very close to 2019 levels, the last season before the Covid-19 pandemic in June and July, but with significantly higher prices, according to data released by the Athens, Attica and Argosaronic hoteliers’ association.
As the Greek tourism industry continues to smash records in arrivals and receipts this year it has prompted questions whether this is sustainable and if the infrastructure can cope.
Besides the well-known passenger shippers who dominate the biggest commercial sea routes, there are many smaller firms that ply little-used connections between islands or between islands and the Greek mainland.
Revenue from tourism this past June exceeded 2019 levels and has boosted predictions of a record year for the sector as far as receipts are concerned.
Booming private jet arrivals in Greece may attest to the country’s attractiveness as a travel destination to the wealthy, but is stretching Greek airports’ capacities to the limit and sometimes frustrating travelers.
Arrivals from abroad at the country’s 14 largest regional airports exceeded all expectations in July, boosting hopes that this will be a record-setting tourist season, better even than 2019, the last year before the Covid-19 pandemic’s heavy impact on both transport and tourism.
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