Arrivals To Crete Down

Tourist traffic to the island of Crete this year will drop by 10 percent, predict Cretan travel agencies. They add that arrivals could drop even further next year. Crete Travel Agent’s Association President Manolis Papakaliatis said tour operators continue to pressure his members to freeze and even reduce rates.

He said 1999 was an excellent year not only for Crete’s tourism sector but Greece as a whole, patricularly in light of mass cancellations last year by travellers planning to visit Turkey. Many opted for Crete, Mr. Papakaliatis said, but this year it seems Turkey has made a comeback and reports high bookings. As as result, Crete has been a fall in bookings, he said.

He added that the message for next year is not positive either. Agreements with tour operators are being signed now, and it appears there will be a decrease in arrivals in 2001.