ITB Berlin: Prebookings from Germany to Halkidiki Up by 19% Over 2019

The HTO stand at ITB Berlin. Photo source: Halkidiki Tourism Organization.

Prebookings by German travelers for Halkidiki are up by 19 percent compared to pre-Covid 2019, according to feedback collected by the Halkidiki Tourism Organization (HTO) during this year’s ITB show in Berlin.

The Halkidiki peninsula in Northern Greece, selected among the world’s best places to relax and unwind by Lonely Planet, appears to be this year’s top holiday destination by travelers in Germany and the UK, where prebookings were up by 16 percent over 2019.

The HTO attributes the rise in demand to more and earlier flights to Thessaloniki’s Makedonia Airport. Additionally, reservations by tourists from the Netherlands are up by 30 percent based on data presented by executives from Sunweb, TUI and Luxair.

HTO President Grigoris Tasios (left) and HTO General Director Georgios Broutzas (right) with their colleagues at ITB Berlin 2023. Photo source: Halkidiki Tourism Organization.

The HTO participated in this year’s ITB after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19 and for the first time in cooperation with the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization with one stand presenting a combined city break-sea & sun travel experience.

The organization as well as Thessaloniki and Halkidiki tourism stakeholders participating in B2B meetings said public response was positive and travel intent increasing despite the cost-of-living crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war.

B2B meetings at ITB Berlin. Photo source: Halkidiki Tourism Organization.

For the first time this year, German tour operators are looking to include thematic tourism packages in their Halkidiki offerings such as maritime tourism, beekeeping, culinary and experiential tourism, said the HTO.

On the sidelines of ITB 2023, HTO officials had the chance to meet with the German press and to announce a series of press trips to Thessaloniki and Halkidiki.

With the slogan “Open for Change”, the world’s leading travel trade show ITB Berlin opened its doors on the Berlin exhibition grounds during March 7-9 for the first time as an exclusively B2B event.