Greek Tourism Minister Says Sector Scoring High on Growth

The Greek tourism sector is moving full speed ahead with a growth rate of 7 percent, double the international average at 3-4 percent, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura told a conference on “Ways out of the Crisis: Trust, Investments, Exports” organized in Athens by the Panhellenic Exporters Association this week.

“We have achieved high performance in tourism, employment and investment,” Kountoura said adding that the government’s national tourism strategy has produced results despite the geopolitical challenges.

The minister noted that in 2015 a record 26 million people visited Greece and 28 million in 2016, adding that for this year, arrivals, overnight stays, revenue, investment and employment are all expected to increase.

Kountoura further underlined that via the ministry’s strategy the sector has managed to extend the tourism season, open up to new markets with particular attention to higher-income travelers, promote lesser known destinations, tap into thematic tourism, launch direct air connections with many destinations, create new jobs and attract new investments in tourism.

“Investing in tourism means investing in our future,” Kountoura concluded.