Covid-19 Impact on tourism economy

Greece’s economy could shrink by 10 percent if a Covid-19 vaccine is not produced and new lockdown measures are imposed, according to Greek think tank IOBE.

Almost 200 airports may face insolvency in the coming months if passenger traffic does not start to recover by year end, according to ACI Europe.

Greece recorded only 5 million international air arrivals during the January – September 2020 period, compared to 18.8 million in the corresponding period of 2019.

The number of inbound visitors to Greece in August 2020 was down by 73.3% year-on-year as a result of the Covid-19 measures.

Thessaloniki Hotels Association President Andreas Mandrinos has painted a gloomy picture for the city’s hotels, which are facing hard times due to Covid-19.

Greece’s tourism sector saw revenue drop by 10.5 billion euros in the first eight months of the year, according to Bank of Greece data.

Occupancy levels at Greece’s small accommodation facilities this year stood at only 25 percent, due to the impact of Covid-19 on tourism.

Accommodation and food & beverage (F&B) businesses in Greece saw revenues plummet in August as a result of Covid-19 disruption.

Greece is on the list of the Top 10 Best-selling Honeymoon Destinations for 2021 that has been released by international travel specialist Kuoni.

Passenger traffic through Greece’s airports dropped by 68.9 percent in the first nine months of the year.

UK and German travelers gave Greece the thumbs up in September despite Covid-19 and international travel restriction confusion.

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios referred to the “harsh reality” that Greek hotels are facing due to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Greeks appear to be less optimistic about the future with regard to the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study by research firm diaNEOsis reveals.

Only 60 percent of all hotels in Greece managed to operate during this year’s tourism season after the country’s Covid-19 lockdown, according to a new report by ITEP.

The international MICE industry is undergoing major changes due to the coronavirus pandemic and becoming more and more dependent on technology, says IAPCO President Ori Lahav.

Covid-19 lingers into the new year creating uncertainty and the need for structural changes in Greek tourism, says the GNTO’s Dimitris Fragakis.

IATA is calling on governments to support the airline industry during the coming winter season, as the impact of Covid-19 has proven to be “deeper and longer”.

Arrivals to Greece by road in Q3 2020 reached only 580,000, accounting for a mere 8% of total arrivals recorded in 2019.

Greek tourism revenue and employment have been hit hard by Covid-19, according to “The New Normal – Short- & Long-term Effects” study by Ira Media.

Crete made a good impression this year despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and a considerable drop in arrivals, with 8 in 10 saying health protocols were satisfactory.