In a recent statement to the Greek national news agency, APE-MPE, the General Secretary of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Dimitris Fragkakis, expressed his optimism about the exceptional performance of the tourism industry in 2023, despite various challenges. He noted that 2023 marks the first “normal” year for Greek tourism after three exceptionally difficult years, and this context should be considered when assessing this year’s tourism performance.
A Return to Normalcy
Fragkakis highlighted some critical statistics for the year 2023, stating that there has been an increase in air arrivals throughout the country and a rise in travel revenues, especially during the first half of the year. He emphasized that July and August saw high occupancy rates in Greek hotels, solidifying Greece’s position as one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, with the most beautiful beaches. Fragkakis concluded that it is shaping up to be a very successful year, with some variations in the performance of specific destinations.
Record-Breaking Statistics
The President of the Greek Hoteliers Federation (POX), Grigoris Tassios, shared his perspective on the 2023 tourism season. Tassios acknowledged that the season started slowly due to adverse weather conditions in May. However, he noted that the summer months saw consistently high hotel occupancy rates, which extended into late August. Despite fierce competition in the Mediterranean region, Greece has demonstrated strong appeal to international travelers in 2023, with September maintaining a 70% average occupancy rate and October expected to perform well.
Tassios emphasized that traditional mass tourism destinations such as the Southern Aegean, Ionian Islands, and Halkidiki continue to attract foreign visitors. He also addressed the topic of 2023’s revenues, stating that it is likely to surpass 2019, with some estimates suggesting it could reach as high as 20 billion euros. However, he emphasized that these figures will need to be confirmed at the end of the year.
Reflecting on Greece’s handling of the challenging 2023 tourism season, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters such as wildfires in Rhodes, Tassios commended the country’s management of the situation. Despite a ten-day setback in the tourism season on the island of Rhodes, Greece is now experiencing a full recovery.
Regarding the financial situation of hotel businesses, Tassios expressed concern about how their operational revenues will be affected by the surge in food prices and rising loan interest rates. He also highlighted the impact of short-term rentals in Greece, expressing hope for the implementation of a regulatory framework for such accommodations in the country.
Optimistic Projections
Looking ahead to 2024, Tassios expressed optimism, especially as hotels begin to negotiate contracts with international tour operators for the upcoming year. He explained that next year is expected to be oriented towards organized travel packages that include both flights and accommodation, which bodes well for the tourism industry’s prospects.
In conclusion, despite facing challenges and unexpected events in 2023, Greece’s tourism industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is on track to achieve record-breaking revenues and arrivals. The positive outlook for 2024 further reinforces the belief that Greek tourism is on a path to recovery and growth. Visit Sithonia and explore the beautiful destinations Greece has to offer.
