Thessaloniki Hoteliers Troubled about Slow Jan-Aug Performance

Thessaloniki, Greece. Photo Source: Visit Greece / H. Kakarouhas

Hoteliers in Thessaloniki are concerned about a decline in overnight stays recorded in the first eight months of the year, the Thessaloniki Hotels Association (THA) said this week.

More specifically, according to THA data released for the January-August 2019 period, the number of overnight stays dropped by 8,760 to 1,587,666 compared to 1,596,426 in the same period in 2018.

Domestic tourism to the city also appeared to be waning with the number of overnight stays by Greek travelers down by 4.40 percent.

In terms of markets, the number of Asian, and African travelers increased over the same period by 483.40 percent to 25,757 stays against 4,415 in 2018. THA attributes the rise to a surge in the number of migrants and refugees staying at Thessaloniki hotels through international migration programs.

Photo Source: Visit Greece / K. Grozoudis

In the lead in terms of overnighters for the eight-month period were the Israelis, up by 15.87 percent at 128,620, followed by the Cypriots at 80,019, and the Germans.

On the downside, the number of travelers from Turkey, Australia, and Russia dropped by 14.37 percent, 11.08 percent and 4.78 percent, respectively.

Photo Source: Thessaloniki Hotels Association

In the meantime, according to monthly data released by GBR Consulting on behalf of the THA, average room rate (ARR) in the January-August 2019 period increased by 3.2 percent, as did revenue per available room (RevPar) by 2.0 percent to 52.40 euros.

However, Greece’s northern port city is still lagging behind and still last in terms of occupancy levels, ARR and RevPar compared to 10 other European competitors – Antwerp, Birmingham, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Budapest, Hamburg, Manchester, and Salzburg.