Kikilias: Austrian Travel Demand Remains Strong for Greece in Winter

Austrians opted for vacations in Greece this summer and are expected to continue visiting the country in the following months, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said from Vienna on Monday.

On an official visit to Austria, Kikilias met with his counterpart, Susanne Kraus Winkler and also held meetings with leading tourism market players who confirmed Greece’s popularity for Austrian travelers.

According to data, air connections from Austria to Greece this year showed an increase with some 20 Greek destinations welcoming flights from the country.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis in discussion with Austrian Tourism Minister Susanne Kraus Winkler.

“Greece was the most popular destination for Austrians in the summer… Specifically, according to tour operators, arrivals from organized travel packages are up this year by 15 percent compared to 2019, while the feedback I am receiving from tourism market players is that tourist traffic will continue to be strong,” he said in a statement, adding that Austrians began traveling to Greece this year since March and are expected to continue to travel to the country in the following months.

“It is indicative that Austrian arrivals to Crete are over 50 percent and to Rhodes over 20 percent compared to 2019, which was the record year… There is also high interest from the Austrian side to meet new Greek destinations,” Kikilias highlighted.

Moreover, the minister highlighted that Greece’s successful 2022 season is acting as a “strong magnet” and is attracting leading Austrian market players to invest in the tourism sector.

Greece-Austria strengthen tourism ties

While in Vienna, Kikilias and his Austrian counterpart, Susanne Kraus Winkler, signed an agreement to strengthen the cooperation of the two countries in the field of tourism.

The agreement touches on issues such as sustainable tourism development and tourism education, while it also includes further cooperation in thematic forms of tourism, such as sports tourism, agritourism and wellness tourism, with the aim of extending the tourist season and attracting Austrians in the autumn in our country.

The meetings of the minister in Austria were also attended by the secretary general of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Dimitris Fragakis.