Key Tourism Figures 2018: Konstantinos Tsegas, Secretary General GNTO
We choose to keep on promoting and featuring Greece’s new destinations unrelentingly
For millions of people, visiting Greece is a lifetime experience. The unique history, the insuperable culture, the famous local gastronomy, the Mediterranean climate and the hospitality offered, have become the synonym for a unique kaleidoscope of natural beauty and the ideal destination for authentic experiences.
But these are not the only reasons for Greece’s famosity worldwide. According to the State Department’s new State Travel Advisory Program, which was put into effect since the beginning of 2018, our country is ranked in level 1, the lowest level of travelling threat. Greece is one of the safest destinations globally, which skyrockets our brand name into the tourism sky.
Greece is one of the safest destinations globally, which skyrockets our brand name into the tourism sky.
The numbers also reflect the truth as during the first semester of 2018 the net tourism revenues increased by 18.9 percent, compared to 2017 and nearly 300,000 (298,171) new jobs were created due to tourism, reaching a new record in job offer since 2001. Until the end of 2018, 32 million tourists are expected to arrive in our country.
The numbers come as proof of the hard, steady and solid work of the Ministry of Tourism and the personal effort put by Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura. They pinpoint, also, the fruitful work done by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, in showcasing and promoting Greece throughout the country and abroad.
Having already achieved new limits doesn’t mean, however, that we have finished doing our job. We choose to keep on promoting and featuring Greece’s new destinations unrelentingly; to invest in our competitive thematic tourism products; to embrace and encourage the opening of new tourism markets, so as to bring Greece out to the world as a global, attractive tourism destination, 365 days-a-year.
This is an open invitation to anyone, aspired by our vision.