ATHENS – Not even the slowing COVID-19 pandemic is cutting into prospects for 2022 being a record year for tourism, on a curve to reach 19 billion euros ($18.71 billion) to surpass the 2019 levels.
Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) President Yiannis Retsos gave the news during the Ellada Meta conference in the capital, citing Bank of Greece seven-month data through July 2022, said GTP Headlines.
He said that tourism-related revenues will surpass 2019’s record of 18.2 billion euros ($17.92 billion) that came from another record 33 million arrivals, more than three times the country’s population.
“We can expect revenues in the range of 18.8-19 billion euros, which is very important considering that this year’s budget predicted 80 percent of 2019 revenue,” he said.
That came after a recent Alpha Bank report which estimates that tourism revenue this year will reach 20 billion euros ($19.69 billion) that would be a bonanza for the New Democracy government putting out state aid for soaring energy costs and general inflation – with an election year coming in 2023.
Retsos said he also expects 2023 to be a good year for Greece despite the geopolitical turmoil, the energy crisis, and inflation, which he said will limit the buying power in Greece’s main markets, mainly those in Europe, the site said.
“Greece managed to create a very strong tourist brand. We are now among the five most important tourist brands in the world and Greece is in the top three choices of potential travelers in main target markets, and especially in European markets,” he said. “This makes us optimistic.”
Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that the next tourism campaign will focus on sustainable tourism, talking to the French newspaper Le Monde, saying that a strategic plan is being developed.
He referred to the island of Tilos, which is 100 percent energy independent most of the time because of solar panels and wind turbines, with other islands facing infrastructure problems over too many visitors.
“There are 124 islands in Greece that you can visit and a lot of destinations on the Greek mainland. The possibilities are endless and the economic choices unlimited,” he said.
“In September and October tourist flows remain high. Our aim is to extend the tourism season in order for the citizens to benefit from tourism revenues throughout the year,” he said.
The film Greece DOES have a Winter, produced for the GNTO’s Visit Greece campaign, is a candidate for the World’s Best Tourism Film at CIFFT People’s Choice Award 2022, GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis said.“I am very proud of this campaign! It is the first time that such an effort to promote winter tourism has been made. Our goal is for Greece to start entering the spectrum of European winter destinations. We want to show that Greece also has a winter and that it’s worth traveling here to experience it,” Fragakis said.
