High Domestic Demand for Winter Destinations in Greece

Arachova. Photo source: Visit Greece / Ⓒ P. Merakos

Greeks preferred to visit popular winter destinations such as Pelion, Elati, Ioannina, Arachova, Galaxidi and Arcadia, over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, giving accommodation and tourism services providers a much-needed boost.

“Average occupancy levels for approximately 1,400 enterprises came to 80 percent for the holiday period,” said Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios in an interview to ANA-MPA.

At the same time, several city destinations such as Athens, Thessaloniki as well as Crete saw increased tourist activity, said Federation of Hellenic Associations of Travel & Tourist Agencies (fedHATTA) President Lysandros Tsilidis.

Christmas 2022 in Athens. Photo source: Municipality of Athens

Tsilidis said this year, Greeks showed an growing interest in group tours, which he said recouped nearly 80 percent of pre-Covid 2019 levels.

Additionally, cities which hosted Christmas theme parks like Trikala and Drama, also reported more visitors.

Tourism stakeholders attributed the positive performance over the holidays to good weather.

Trikala, Greece.

The upcoming period to Carnival season and Easter are crucial, said Tasios, adding that business turnover for the holidays will be exhausted. Tasios went on to say that January 31 (the date the first round of early bookings ends) and March 31 (the second round) will give some clearer indications as to tourism expectations for 2023.

Meanwhile, Greeks who chose to travel abroad preferred to visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi (Finland), London, Paris, Budapest and cities in Germany, Italy and Spain as well as in Turkey, Jerusalem, and Egypt.