Industry Reports & Trends

Business travelers place security lines and flight delays on the top of the list of events that most negatively affect travel. And, the majority does not want cell phone use allowed in-flight. As for travel managers, they say expectations from top management are cost savings and globalization of the travel program.

In 2005 international tourism sustained the sharp upturn that began in 2004 in spite of the various tragic events it had to contend. According to preliminary results presented with by the United Nations specialized agency, the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide grew by 5.5% and exceeded 800 million for the first time ever.

Although unable to produce accurate data, last month the country’s tourism development minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, estimated that tourist arrivals last year rose by 16 percent against 2004.

Athens hotel occupancy rates last year remained at 2004 levels but the average price per room fell more than 15 percent, according to a recent report by the Attica Hoteliers’ Association.

Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis and Attica Region Secretary General Haralambos Maniatis early last month presented the results of major surveys undertaken by the company Leo Burnett concerning the promotion of Athens and Attica tourism. For the most part, the results were very positive.

Although the Institute for Tourism Research has yet to receive clearance from the tourism ministry to take over as the official source of tourism arrival data and the like, as promised by the ministry, it came out last month with arrival statistics. With available data for the first 10 months of the year, it says foreign arrivals for 2005 should exceed the previous year’s by a bit more than 6%.

Five-star and 4-star Greek hotels will close 2005 with an 8% increase in sales, when compared with the year before, according to a recent ICAP study. The reason cited for the increase quite simply is the recovery of tourism movement to Greece during the past year.

The travel industry is staring at a generational divide. On one side are the deep-pocketed baby boomers, with more money and free time than ever. On the other are the burgeoning Generation X’ers, whose oldest members turned 40 this year and who increasingly are asserting their buying power.

Although some recent studies show that foreign visitors to Greece shy away from museums, tickets sold for entrance to museums have increased significantly. According to Archaeological Receipts and Expropriations Fund, the increase is due to museum renovations and the opening of new museums.

Although among the world’s best, Greece’s hotels are not aware of the benefits of brand names, according to a recent study. The 2005 Greek Hotel Branding Report, which is the first of its kind for the Greek tourism market, explores the extent of branding among Greek hotels and presents all hotel brands that have built a presence in the country’s hospitality industry.