Greece Expected To Attract More British Tourists This Year

Greece is once again very firmly included on the tourism map with an 11 percent increase in visitors from the UK in 2013, according to the Travel Trends Report 2014 released recently by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

ABTA’s 2014 Travel Trends Report highlights Greece as one of the 12 destinations to watch for this year as the country was one of the most popular overseas holiday destinations in 2013 for Brits along with Spain, USA, France, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey and Tunisia.

“The economic problems in the country have led to a decrease in prices in many bars and restaurants, making the country much more affordable,” ABTA said.

The association mentioned that more luxury accommodation options have sprung up recently in Greece as the high end of the market has continued to perform well.

Rhodes, Anthony Quinn Bay.

The most popular Greek islands for Brits remain Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Zakynthos, but enterprising tour operators are offering “off the beaten track, boutique options, giving a taste of authentic Greece.”

ABTA said areas to look for include the northern Aegean and the green and thickly wooded islands of Thassos and Ikaria and for those looking to truly relax and recharge their batteries, the islands of Alonissos and Skopelos in the Sporades further south.

“But for truly spectacular views and five star luxury, the volcanic island of Santorini, viewed as the most likely site of the historical source of the mythical Atlantis, is unbeatable,” the association concluded.

Greece is also among the top destinations for British tourists for 2014, according to Britain’s Expedia. The travel search engine said searches for holidays on the Greek islands have more than doubled for this year compared with 2013.

The UK is Greece’s largest tourism market after Germany.