Greek Hoteliers Expect 2020 to Be a Challenging Year for Tourism

The new year is expected to be one with many challenges for tourism, according to Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Grigoris Tasios.

Speaking to the Athens News Agency, Tasios referred to events that marked Greek tourism in 2019, such as the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook, and said he sees “a challenging year” approaching.

Looking towards the new year, Tasios said the hotel sector expects the framework for the short-term rental market to be settled.

“In terms of arrivals, I would say that Greece has been in a stability process in recent years. However, short-term rentals have brought much upheaval to the market, as we (hotels) see many arrivals but not the corresponding number of overnight stays,” he said, adding that the sector is waiting to see what the framework will be for the short-term rental market in January.

“We expect a framework in which everyone will pay their dues,” Tasios said.

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The federation’s president also referred to the geopolitical factor as a challenge for Greek tourism in 2020.

“Turkey wants many tourists and so does Cyprus. Meanwhile we are seeing the UK return to the market despite Brexit, as the situation seems to be manageable,” he said.

In regards to the German market, Tasios said he sees a standstill. “We still have a long way to go to restore the great turmoil that Thomas Cook caused,” Tasios said.

On a final note, Tasios said he hopes 2020 will be a year that will bring in at least the same tourist numbers as 2019.

“We also hope that in the new year, the government will consider tourism as a top priority since it has helped the country a great deal,” he underlined.