Greece Aiming to Attract Higher Spending Travelers
Attracting holidaymakers who are willing to spend more is a key priority, said Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias this week during the 1st International Business and Hospitality Conference.
Kikilias referred to actions being taken by the ministry which include reaching out to higher spending markets as well as introducing new destinations in Greece.
The minister went on to add that promotional actions were producing results as demonstrated by the fact that 500,000 Americans are currently holidaying in Greece thanks to new direct flights from the US to Greece.
On Sunday, one more American carrier, Delta Air Lines inaugurated flights between Athens and Boston. Delta also flies nonstop to Atlanta and New York from the Greek capital.
Kikilias underlined the importance of relaunch of the Athens-Boston route after almost three decades, adding that the tourism product is a “certain investment” and will remain so for the next decades.
“Based on the strategy we set out in the winter, we already have 500,000 travelers in the capital directly from the US: from Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Washington. And now from Boston,” he said.
“All of this, of course, adds value to the Greek tourism product as it translates into growth, investments that come to stay and a boost to revenues throughout the year,” he said.
Lastly, the minister said Greece had managed in the two years of the pandemic to rebrand as one of the world’s safest destinations.
“We have developed the framework that ensures one can travel to our country safely. We take care of our travelers. We take care of our citizens. And we will continue to do so,” he said.
These news make me think that we European people who have average income are not wanted. However people with average income are biggest group of people travelling. Have been travelling in Greece for 40 years and been spending quite a lot of money on my holidays and longer stays in Greece.
It won’t work as even the high spenders can’t afford to book when a villa two years ago cost €2000 and now today the same villa €4800 not to mention the car higher which needs to be regulated as it’s killing tourism by being overpriced. I’m on Crete and this is the reality tourist going back home carrying stories back with them of feeling ripped off and many crossing Greece off their wish list for the future.
We go self catering for three weeks to Crete, spend around £2000, but its getting so expensive now we are thinking of looking elsewhere.