Tourism Sector Lacks Pertinent Data

The decision making process for most business enterprises and for the formation of a general economic sector policy, such as a tourism policy, begins with the attempt to obtain as much data as possible. Greece and Europe’s tourism sector in general, however, lack the pertinent data required in order to make such decisions. In order to confront the problem, the World Tourism Organization has been pushing country tourism organizations to adopt its satellite account method and many countries have promised to do so, including Greece.

The private sector has yet to progress to such a stage. Here, it’s not what method is used but rather the general difficulty in obtaining the information required to support a policy or business decision. According to the latest available data from such organizations as the group of national travel agents’ and tour operators’ associations within the EU, or ECTAA, it appears that many tourism agent associations within Europe either do not have basic information or are not inclined to pass information on to the group association. Greece is one of those countries.

A look at the following ECTAA tables for the 5-year period 1996-2001, although far from complete, gives the impression that the travel agencies and tour operators throughout most of Europe are doing well and increasing in both numbers and revenue. And this data comes during a period where most complained of a loss in business due to a slow economy and stiff competition.

It’s interesting to note that the number of officially recognized travel agencies in Greece totaled around 4,435 in 2001 -with a similar number registered in Turkey- when the world’s number one tourism destination, France, counted 5,500 agencies but almost double the number of employees. Figures also show France doubled the number of agencies in the five-year period without a major increase in employment.

Number of travel agents and tour operators in Europe

Number of persons employed by the travel agents and tour operators

Total turnover by the travel agents and tour operators (mil. euros)