Study: Greece Among Most Inspiring Destinations this Summer

Photo: GTP

Greece is among the most inspiring destinations in Southeastern Europe and the Balkan region, according to data released this week by tourism intelligence provider Mabrian for summer 2022. 

Greece, together with Croatia and Montenegro are in lead in terms of inspirational search demand and at the top of Western European source markets when compared to other destinations in the region.

According to Mabrian findings, Greece is also up by 11 percent and Romania by 6 percent recovering the best in terms of air capacity compared to pre-pandemic 2019. Serbia and Croatia follow at a slower rate and lastly, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Cyprus are marking a low level of recovery.

In terms of hotel price recovery, Greece together with Croatia and Bulgaria are recording an increase in prices across all hotel categories, while Cyprus is the only country seeing a decrease in prices.  

On the downside, the average length of stay in Greece has dropped as hotel prices have increased compared to 2021 – especially at 5-star units,  where room rates have risen by 11 percent, marking the highest rise in  Southeastern Europe, said Mabrian.

Indicatively, the average price for a standard double room in Greece for the peak June to August period at a 3-star hotel increased by 5 percent to 107 euros, by 2 percent to 172 euros at a 4-star hotel, and by 11 percent at a 5-star hotel to 310 euros, Mabrian found.

Lastly, examining source markets for the region, Mabrian analysts found that the UK was seeing a drop in interest, in online searches, and a shorter average length of stay. 

“This analysis shows the different rates of recovery of some of the main holiday destinations in Southeastern Europe. Undoubtedly, the instability caused by the conflict in Ukraine has affected them in two ways: on the one hand, generating uncertainty for potential visitors this summer from Northern Europe and Western Europe, and on the other, affecting the Russian source market, with an historically large weight in the region,” said Anna Borduzha, head of business development for Mabrian in Italy, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and the US.