Hoteliers Blame Overnights Drop on New Hotels

The recent increase in new hotels in the Attica area is responsible for the reduction in overnights by member units of the Attica Hoteliers Association, according to the Academy of Tourism Research and Studies.

The Hellenic Tourism Organization says some 10,000 new hotel rooms have been created in the Attica area recently. As well, Athenian deluxe units (such as the Hilton, Grande Bretange), which account for almost one-third of all available deluxe rooms, reopened this year after being closed last year for major renovations.

The academy says statistics from the association show a major decrease in overnights at Athenian deluxe hotel units, as much as 32%, and a smaller but substantial loss in overnights at other Attica area units of around 11%. On a more general scale, arrivals to Greece for this year are expected to drop by some 5%, instead of the projected 10%, while tourism revenue will be cut by as much as 25%, according to press reports. And except for the fact that this has been a very difficult year for all destinations, the experts say Greece has lost its advantage of being a cheap mass tourism destination but has failed to create the quality of services or products that would entice a more up-market traveler.

Hoteliers add that government has not taken advantage of the tourism possibilities created by the 2004 Games to be held in Athens nor has it promoted or properly advertised Greece as a popular tourism destination.