Bloomberg Sees Longer Season, Tourism to Greece Booming

Milos, Greece.

Greece has managed to extend its tourism season attracting all the more visitors, said Bloomberg this week, adding that the “summer season has already begun”.

The writer goes on to note that the Greek tourism industry, which accounts for 25 percent of the country’s GDP, is experiencing “explosive growth” and that the tourist peak season has doubled or even tripled in length.

Agios Georgios, Naxos. Photo © Naxos and Small Cyclades Municipality.

Among others, the article also mentions Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who told Greek television that “this year, travelers started arriving on direct flights from the beginning of March – Canadians, Americans, Australians, Chinese, tourists from the Middle East and, of course, all Europeans – and this will continue until the end of the year”.

A key priority, said Kikilias is opening up to new markets and attracting big spenders.

The Bloomberg story goes on to list destinations to stay in Greece, including the Cyclades, luxury resorts on the mainland, and other “best new places to book for a Mediterranean summer”.

Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias. Photo source: VKikilias.

Extending the tourism season has been a top priority over the last few years for the Greek tourism ministry. Tourism has been driving the economy and development of the country and providing jobs particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahead of elections on May 21, Greeks have given the current government kudos for its performance in tourism and for the growing popularity of Greece as a leading tourist destination in a poll released by research firm Metron Analysis. In the survey, 70 percent of respondents found that the government had done well with regard to tourism.