Foreign Arrivals for 2009 Predicted to Fall

A Eurobank survey predicts a significant slowdown in arrivals of tourists from abroad to Greece in 2009.

The survey indicates that major markets for the Greek tourism sector, such as Great Britain, are expected to show a sharp reduction in demand as consumer activities of the Britons has been reduced due to the credit crisis and the recent decline of the sterling.

Also, for 2009, Greece should not expect a significant influx of tourists from Eastern Europe, and mainly Russia, as the development growth of these countries are expected to fall significantly, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Social Council of Greece delved deeper into tourism sector problems.

It recently expressed an opinion on “Tourism and Environment” in which they concluded that the basic characteristics of Greek tourism are seasonality along with a high dependence on travel agents (tour operators).

In regards to the level of offered services and technical infrastructure, the council said that there is room for improvement, and there is a need to cover shortcomings of health sector infrastructure.

The council believes that the planned zoning law for tourism requires serious reform in order for it to play its necessary role for the promotion of an improved model of spatial development of tourism.

The council also called for necessary measures to be taken for the withdrawal of downgraded lodgings regardless of their size and for the diversification of investment incentives between developed and non-developed tourist areas.

The impact that tourism development has on the environment was also discussed and it was agreed that alternative forms of tourism must be developed.