Key Tourism Figures 2019: Andreas Chiou, Chairman, Greek Property Managers Association

Hospitality is not just an indefinable concept but a natural way of life for us Greeks

Hospitality has been in the genes of the Greeks since ancient times. Guests always had a prominent place in the home that hosted them.

This mentality was passed on to the younger generations and – in combination with the excellent natural areas of our country – Greece ranks as one of the top tourism destinations with the best offered services.

When the sharing economy first began to appear, individuals were given the opportunity to rent their properties for the short-term. That created an ever-increasing trend of a specific tourism form today being chosen more and more by our visitors.

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Andreas Chiou, Chairman, Greek Property Managers Association

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…It is not a coincidence that a leading sharing economy platform, in a recent survey, ranked Greece 3rd in the world in the category of best accommodation and services offered to visitors…

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It is not a coincidence that a leading sharing economy platform, in a recent survey, ranked Greece 3rd in the world in the category of best accommodation and services offered to visitors.

The sharing economy is a phenomenon with an ever-increasing growth rate that today covers over 12 percent of Greece’s tourism product.

It has helped our country recover from the crisis and breath life back into residential properties that were shut due to reduced demand. The sharing economy also helped to introduce neighborhoods and locations that previously had no benefit from tourism.

So, playing a complementary role to the hotel industry, short-term accommodation is an option for alternative travel, especially for families, who, due to lower costs, choose to stay in a house or an apartment in neighborhoods of the city and live – for a while – as a local.

This is, after all, the most important factor when choosing to stay at a property rented for the short-term. The experience the visitor has, even if it is only for a few days, which allows him or her to become part of the city, is invaluable.

We, as hosts, will always ensure that our guests receive the best service possible, just as our ancestors provided to their guests for thousands of years.

Because hospitality is not just an indefinable concept but a natural way of life for us Greeks!