Greek Summer Loading: Expecting 3.2m Visitors in August 

Greece is expecting 3.2 million visitors this month breaking all records and demonstrating the sector’s robust growth, according to recently released data.

The recent data released by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) in collaboration with the Hellenic Slot Coordination Authority show that August expected to be the “hottest” month in terms of arrivals.

The number of airline seats to Greek airports excluding Athens is set at 3.241 million, up by 6.6 percent compared to the same period last year with the largest increase in seats from Germany, up by 11.7 percent or an additional 50,000, and from the UK, stronger by 8.5 percent and 49,000 seats. Russia and the Netherlands have marked the greatest rise in seats by 25.8 percent/46,000 seats and 18.3 percent/26,000, respectively.

Winning Greek destinations include Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos, Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini and Halkidiki. Tourism professionals are forecasting the same performance in September, citing a total of 2.73 million seats booked for that month. The biggest challenge, they say, is securing the corresponding revenues.

Tourism Minister: Figures for 2017 are impressive

During a recent interview to 91,6 FM radio, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said that the figures for 2017 are “impressive” referring to the increased number of overnight stays, fully booked hotels across the country and the record number of arrivals thus far.

According to the minister, hotel occupancy in most destinations — popular and lesser known — has reached 80 to 95 percent.

“We managed in 2016-2017 to extend the tourism season, promoting Greece all year round through its tourism offerings including health and wellness tourism, religious tourism, gastronomy, sports and conference tourism,” Kountoura said.

According to the minister, revenue is developing very good for tourism, particularly from non-Schengen countries.