Kountoura: Greek Tourism’s Strong Momentum will Continue in 2018

2017 is a record year for Greece regarding tourism revenue, arrivals, hotel occupancy, overnight stays and investment, Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said prior to the welcoming of the New Year.

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura.

In a greeting to Greek newspaper VIMA, Minister Kountoura underlined that arrivals in 2017 recorded a nine percent increase, reaching 30 million for the first time.

Regarding tourism investment, the minister said that more than 300 new plans for existing and new upscale hotels have been submitted to the ministry over the last two years and have received a license or are in the process of receiving one. “A total of 254 tourism investments were submitted to the development law, with a total budget of more than 920 million euros,” she said.

For 2018, the tourism minister said that Greek tourism’s strong momentum will continue. “Early bookings began with a double-digit rise,” she said.

Greece, a 365-day destination

Minister Kountoura underlined the ministry’s strategic goal of establishing tourism all 365 days a year in Greece through the national and regional tourism policy that has been in force since 2015. “For three consecutive years, Greek tourism recorded growth rates of over seven percent a year, higher than the world average,” the minister said.

According to data, Greece saw more than 26 million international arrivals in 2015 and over 28 million on 2016.

Greece’s tourism policy, since 2015, has been based on five strategic pillars: extending the official summer season, opening new dynamic source-markets, introducing new fabulous Greek destinations, developing thematic tourism, and attracting new tourism investments of high added value.

“The success of Greek tourism is a success for Greece. Tourism is a national affair and our great investment in the future for the economic and social well-being of our country,” Minister Kountoura underlined.