13th Touristiko Panorama Shows Greek Travel Trends

The impressive Greek National Tourism Organization-Tourism Development Ministry stand.

Kapa Research revealed significant Greek travel trends for the occasion of the 13th Touristiko Panorama travel exhibition held in Athens on 17-20 April, organized by the Kalofolias Group-Express Newspaper.

The most important trend revealed by the survey showed the vast majority of Greek travelers believe recreational escapes and vacations to be a necessity of contemporary lifestyle and some 65 percent of Greeks realized more than two trips that required an overnight stay in tourism accommodation in 2007.

Other facts revealed by the research include the majority of Greek travelers would search for accommodation that cost up to 80 euros daily during their vacation, and prefer Greek destinations to international ones. The majority of Greek travelers claimed they would spend the same amount of money this year as last year and would take the same number of vacation days. Most Greeks surveyed consider Greek tourism to be significant for the development of the national economy and believe related ministries and bodies do not support tourism development ministry efforts.

Statistics from the survey revealed 58 percent of Greek travelers went on two and three-day escapes at random weekends throughout the year and 37.4 percent went on public holidays. Excluding summer vacations, 23.1 percent of those surveyed went on three trips last year that required an overnight stay, 23.1 percent went on four and above and 19.3 percent went on two trips.

Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos greets Greek Travel Pages Publisher Maria Theofanopoulou at the GTP stand.

When asked “Have you traveled abroad this year for vacations and if yes, how many times?” 24.1 percent answered once, 9.6 percent answered twice and 60.4 percent did not travel abroad in 2007. Amongst those surveyed, 19.7 percent take a week’s vacation annually, 23.6 percent travel for 10 days, 21.3 percent for two weeks, 14.2 percent for three weeks, 12.3 percent for one month and 8.8 percent for over one month.

According to the survey, the five most popular destinations for 2008 are the Cyclades with 19.7 percent, the Ionian Islands with 11.4 percent, Crete with 8.9 percent, Dodekanissos with 6.8 percent and Peloponissos with 6.7 percent. With regard to spending, 22.7 percent of Greek travelers would spend between 601 and 900 euros for their vacation, 18.5 percent would spend between 900 and 1,200 euros, 17.1 percent would spend up to 600 euros, 14.9 percent between 1,201 and 1,500 euros, 13.3 percent between 1,501 and 2,000 euros, 9.1 percent between 2,001 and 3,000 and 4.4 percent would spend above 3,000 euros.

When given a choice of three answers for what improvements must be made for Greece’s tourism development, those surveyed replied increased consumer protection, an upgrade in Greece’s natural heritage services and the treatment of tourists at 45.3 percent, 44.9 percent and 41.7 percent respectively. The survey also asked how satisfied Greek travelers were with Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos and 58 percent declared very satisfied, 15.2 percent a little satisfied and 14.1 percent not satisfied at all. The sample of the survey was 1,924 people from all over Greece.

The 13th Touristiko Panorama was also an occasion to honor members of the tourism sector that have greatly contributed to the development of the Greek tourism sector.

President of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), Yiannis Evangelou with Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos, HATTA Vice President Argyro Fili and HATTA Director at Large Vassilis Kondos. The association was honored at the exhibition for its eighty-year contribution to the Greek tourism sector.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos presented president of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA), Yiannis Evangelou, with an honorary award to mark the association’s eighty-year contribution to Greek tourism. Tourism Secretary General Spyros Efstathopoulos presented an honorary distinction to Magnessia Prefect Apostolos Papatolia for being the region of honor in the exhibition.

As well, television travel program “We Live in Greece,” received a distinction for the enhancement of domestic tourism and Nilfisk Advance (manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment) and Miele Hellas (catering equipment & products) both received distinctions for their presence in and support of the Kalofolias Group’s “Tourism and Economy” magazine since 1973.

Several significant events also took place within the framework of Touristiko Panorama 2008. HATTA held a seminar on “Organized travel and consumer protection” that outlined the need for institutional reforms in the operation of travel agencies and the responsibilities of the travel agent to the consumer. Mr. Evangelou underlined the significance that the European Union places on consumer-safe travel and presented travel agents with European directives with regard to the aforementioned. The Prefectural Administration of Cyclades also held an event to celebrate Greek National Tourism Organization posters throughout the years by distinguished artists such as Michalis Katzourakis, Freddy Karabot and Agni Katzouraki.