Greece Boosts Presence in Dutch Market as Travel Demand Rises

Photo Source: Thessaloniki Tourism Organization 

Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Pieria and the Region of Central Macedonia teamed up to promote their tourism offerings during the “Vakantiebeurs 2024” expo held in Utrecht, Netherlands, this month.

According to feedback gathered at the expo, demand from the Dutch market for Greece is on the rise. Following Β2Β meetings with local tour operators SUNWEB and TUI said prebookings for 2024 are up by 45 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Meanwhile, visitors expressed interest in the tourism offerings of Halkidiki, Thessaloniki, Pieria and the Region of Central Macedonia with a focus on 50+ travel, the best season to visit, sites and attractions, natural landscapes, and hiking tourism options. The Dutch also expressed interest in visiting Thessaloniki, Pieria and Mt Olympus.

Photo Source: Thessaloniki Tourism Organization

“The Netherlands are considered to be one of our most important markets,” said Thessaloniki Tourism Organization (TTO) Voula Patoulidou, adding that targeted actions in this direction have been included in the region’s tourism strategy. The Dutch travel all year round, spend more and visit off season, said Patoulidou, who is also deputy regional governor of the city.

Also commenting on Halkidiki’s participation this year, Halkidiki Tourism Organization President Grigoris Tasios said the Dutch market was an important and growing market for Halkidiki.

Photo Source: Halkidiki Tourism Organization

Last year, he said, the number of Dutch travelers to the region increased by 18 percent compared to 2019, reaching “25,000 package tours while 20,000 independent travelers also visited”.

“The momentum that has developed in recent years for Halkidiki, especially with the daily direct flight by Transavia in the summer months, seems to be continuing in 2024,” he added.