Key Tourism Figures 2019: George Vilos, Executive Director Commercial & Business Development, Fraport Greece
There is no doubt that the upgrade of the 14 airports will serve as a catalyst for the upgrade of Greek tourism
The year 2019 signals the completion of works at nine out of the 14 airports of Fraport Greece, i.e. Chania, Zakynthos, Kavala, Aktio, Kefalonia, Mytilene, Rhodes, Samos and Skiathos. Moreover, the completion of all construction works is set for the beginning of 2021 with the delivery of the last five airports (Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kos, Mykonos and Santorini) to the Greeks and the worldwide travelers.
There is no doubt that the upgrade of the 14 airports will serve as a catalyst for the upgrade of Greek tourism, which remains the main driving force for the Greek economy.
Having as core targets the excellent travel experience and the traffic development, we remain committed to deliver safe, modern and friendly airport infrastructure, to develop commercial spaces in line with the international airport standards, to attract new airlines and routes, and, of course, to cooperate closely with all tourism bodies in order to achieve the gradual extension of the tourist season through the upgrade, diversification and promotion of the served destinations.
…It is extremely important for all of us involved in the tourism chain, to keep on investing in quality, value for money services and team work…
We all know that the creation of a competitive tourism product requires the provision of high-end, customer-oriented services in order to meet the ever-increasing needs of travelers. The enrichment and customization of the tourism product, the upgrade and modernization of the public infrastructure, the improvement of the quality of tourist services and certainly the sense of security are indispensable prerequisites of our country’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.
Moreover, we firmly believe that a systematic monitoring of the global trends is necessary in order for all tourism related identities to adapt quickly to the new trends and continuous evolution of tourists’ requirements and preferences.
Fraport Greece actively supports the promotion of all 14 Greek destinations through strong local partnerships and synergies, as well as through coordinated and targeted destination marketing actions.
In this context, we work closely and productively with all state and local stakeholders towards the promotion of our country and the enhancement of its competitiveness in the global tourism arena.
The year 2019 is undoubtedly a year of stabilization in relation to tourists’ arrivals in our country, a fact that constitutes a big challenge that mostly requires the establishment of strong synergies among all parties involved into the Greek tourism industry.
The 14 Greek destinations that we serve deserve a top position in the world tourism map and we feel responsible to serve and contribute to the attainment of this objective. There is no doubt that the attractiveness of a tourist destination is directly linked with a series of conditions, with the improved public infrastructure to hold a prominent position.
Moreover, as we go through an era of recession worldwide, it is extremely important for all of us involved in the tourism chain, to keep on investing in quality, value for money services and team work, as all of them are critical components towards sustainability and future development.