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Greece Tourism Sector Targets 25 Million Int’l Arrivals in 2015
Posted On 25 Feb 2015
Photo © lornet / Shutterstock
The first estimates for Greece’s tourism performance are moving in a positive direction as the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) announced today that its official target for 2015 is to attract 25 million international arrivals and over 14 billion euros in revenue. The target of attracting 25 million international arrivals to Greece this year includes some 2.5 million cruise arrivals.
Also, according to data, airline seat capacity this year has increased by one million compared to 2014.
According to SETE, the “quarterly period of uncertainty” has ended after eurozone finance ministers approved the set of proposals put forward by the Greek Government.
“This gives the possibility to recover lost ground and achieve the objectives of 2015,” SETE said and assured it was working closely with the ministry to take all appropriate measures.
The association added that a key condition for the continued positive performance of Greek tourism is a stable fiscal framework, which would not create “additional barriers” shortly before the start of the new season.
“Recent reports of a possible abolition of the reduced VAT on the islands and tourist accommodation could halt the dynamic growth of tourism if they are eventually confirmed since tourists will then turn to competitor countries that maintain lower VAT rates in travel packages.”
SETE also called for the finalization of the new investment law and the activation of NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) programs so small and medium-sized enterprises could proceed either with new investments or upgrade existing tourism infrastructure.
The association invited all involved in tourism, from the private and public sectors, to work together in order to “ensure the development course of Greek tourism to the economy, employment and local communities”.
Very promising news indeed but…..one must ask themselves how many of these millions of visitors to Athens and Greece will actually decide to return to Greece in the years to come. A large percentage of these future visitors like the visitors of 2013, 2014 come to Greece for the cheap holiday but do they return?
This is the vital question. How will Greece maintain a sustainable competitive advantage?
Personally [and I say this with utmost respect] I think the GNTO needs to update it’s selling ‘package’ of Athens…..it’s too commercial and way too generic.
Central Athens sells itself and always will so let’s move away from the ‘tourist package’ and open up new avenues for visitors to Athens.
For instance elaborate on the wonderful shopping and restaurants in the north of the city in places like Kifissia, Nea Eryhtrea etc or let’s have a sea side holiday in Athens…….this is where Vouliagmeni comes in……International visitors such as the higher scale visitors would be thrilled by the array of options if only they knew about them but to be honest they don’t.
When I was at TBEX Athens I tried to reiterate this notion to the Greek marketing representatives I met and for the most part they agreed but at the same time seemed very uninterested in what I was saying. Perhaps my English way of thinking didn’t coincide with their ‘we know best’ ideology. To be honest I would be thrilled to be offered a position in the Greek tourism sector…..elated to be precise but it’s hard to get noticed.
With an aim to target big spenders which is what I do on my Twitter account I would show ‘The Athenian way of life’ but from an expats point of view.
I’m eager to depict a hidden world of gastronomic delights, electric nightlife, sandy beaches and pristine waters not to mention a hidden lake but again 60% of visitors to Athens have no idea this part of Athens exists.
Hope one day to find like-minded people who share in this notion with me and who are willing to dedicate their effort in showing the world that Athens can and does compete with the best of them.
In conclusion, Bravo Greece and to the many Greek marketing companies who do and have done a superb job in changing people’s perceptions of this beautiful little country I salute you.
But let’s not forget about Athens too……after all she is the creator of western civilization.