Greek Tourism Continues to be on a Roll

Arachova, Southern Greece, from a distance. Photo © GTP

Greece in October continues its strong performance in tourism, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Sunday.

Speaking to Greek television station SKAI, the minister highlighted the very high occupancy rates recorded this month on the country’s popular islands and in Athens, which, as he said, is “full of American travelers”. Kikilias added that Greece’s winter destinations were also seeings bookings pour in due to the upcoming three-day weekend for the October 28 holiday.

“October is an incredible month for Greek tourism,” he said.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias

According to Kikilias, occupancy rates in Pelion, Mani, Trikala Korinthias and Arachova are already exceeding 90 percent, Vytina and Dimitsana have reached 95 percent occupancy and destinations in Epirus, such as Zagori, Metsovo and Aristi, are also recording a very good performance.

The minister underlined that it is even very difficult to find a room to book in some destinations, such as the mountainous Nafpaktia, where occupancy rates have reached 100 percent.

“At the same time, the branded destinations of Rhodes and Crete, our big islands, as well as the rest of the tourist destinations, including Athens and Thessaloniki of course, are still seeing rising occupancy rates from the Americans and the French… The airplanes just keep coming and going,” Kikilias said.

The tourism minister pointed out that the national economy and the average Greek family are still being strengthened by tourism during this very difficult period.

“This is an important contribution to the Greek economy and in December we will discuss revenues,” he said, reminding that initial forecasts saw tourism generating revenue of some 15 billion euros in 2022.

“Not only did we surpass forecasts, but I assure you that we will be well above the 18.2 billion euros of 2019,” the minister said.