Greece Sees Rise in 2018 Bookings from US Market

Early bookings from the US market to Greece for the 2018 tourism season have kicked off with a 10 percent increase, according to Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura.

Speaking on Tuesday during the 28th Annual “The Greek Economy” Conference of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Minister Kountoura referred to the steadily rising trend of arrivals of US tourists to Greece over the last three years, with annual growth rates of 10-20 percent.

During her speech, the minister said that the rising numbers of US tourists to Greece follow the launch of the ministry’s three-year promotion plan of the country to the American market, which also includes the enhancement of aviation connectivity between the two countries.

Kountoura said that through targeted actions, the ministry is promoting Greece as a destination for tourism investments, aiming to attract new projects to the Greek hotel market. She also referred to significant investments made in Greece by leading American groups, this way boosting their presence in the Greek tourism market.

“We support partnerships, synergies and investments that will bring economic and development benefits across Greece and tourism in the wider Mediterranean and European region in the coming years,” she said, adding that tourism is a dominant growth force and contributes to progress, economic and social well-being.

In April 2018, Athens will host the ASTA Destination Expo 2018, the annual international conference of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). ASTA’s destination expo is expected to stimulate interest in the Greek travel market and give US travel agents the chance to visit, learn more about and promote Greece as a leading destination choice in the coming years.

The chamber’s “The Greek Economy” Conference took place December 4-5 at the Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel in Athens and focused on the need to reshape the model of the Greek economy and to revive entrepreneurial and business dynamics.