Ministry Denies Slip in Greek Tourism

The tourism ministry recently released tourist traffic figures, which contradicts newspaper reports that refer to a ‘freefall’ of Greek tourism.

According to the ministry, despite the current unfavorable international economic climate, which results from the euro-dollar exchange rate, the surge in oil costs and the global wave of high prices, Greek tourism shows positive signs as it is the only eurozone country that depicts an upward trend in all fields.

According to official data, the six-month period of January to June 2008 revealed a three percent increase in total arrivals at major Greek airports.

The ministry stressed that Greece has not lost visitors to dollar-driven destinations such as Turkey, Egypt and Morocco. An increase is noticed for the June-July period that concerns the influx of visitors to Greek destinations from eastern markets, mainly Russia, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, in comparison with that of June-July 2007.
In regards to the United Kingdom, due to the sterling-euro exchange rate, arrivals of British tourists will move on the same level as 2007.

According to the German statistical office and major tour operators, tourism traffic has increased four to five percent on destinations such as Crete, Samos, Santorini and Kos.

Arrivals from Scandinavia and the Baltic countries produce an increase of 15 percent.

The tourism ministry also asserted that a general increase in quality tourism has been noticed in Greece.

The ministry concluded that based on the official facts mentioned above there is not a ‘freefall’ of Greek tourism and not a ‘fall’ of any other kind, as Greek tourism has presented positive results in all fields.