Tourism Minister: Impressive Rise in Bookings to Greece for 2018

Photo source: Region of Attica

Bookings to Greece for the 2018 season are seeing an impressive increase compared to last year, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said on Friday.

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura inaugurating the HORECA 2018 expo.

Speaking on the opening day of the Horeca 2018 exhibition in Athens, Minister Kountoura noted that until now, bookings from Greece’s traditional and new markets have recorded an increase of 15 to 30 percent.

The minister underlined that the flight programs of airlines are including new direct connections to more Greek destinations from more foreign airports this year.

“The strategic agreements we have concluded with leading international travel groups and airlines have helped boost our tourism share for the third consecutive year and strengthen the connectivity of all Greek destinations,” she said.

New tourism legislation

During her speech at the 7th Hellenic Chamber of Hotels General Assembly held on the sidelines of HORECA, the minister presented the new institutional framework for the development of thematic forms of tourism in Greece.

According to Minister Kountoura, for Greece to reach the goal of becoming a 365 days a year tourism destination, thematic tourism is a main priority for the ministry.

“We have completed and brought to public consultation an overall bill to cover all needs and to settle issues related to the tourism sector,” Kountura said.

She added that the new draft bill includes a comprehensive institutional framework that will support the development of thematic forms of tourism in Greece over the coming years, based on international standards and modern world trends.