WTM: Tourist Demand for Halkidiki Robust

The Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece is expecting strong tourism performance to continue in 2023, according to feedback gathered during the Halkidiki Tourism Organization’s (HTO) participation in this year’s World Travel Market in London.

Sharing the newly-designed stand with the  Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), HTO executives had the chance to catch up on the latest data regarding pre-booking trends for the region.

According to local tourism stakeholder attending WTM, travelers from the UK have expressed a strong desire to visit Halkidiki with bookings on the rise and pre-bookings for 2024 already running.

For Jet2 & Jet2 holidays, the Northern Greece peninsula marked an 11 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic 2019, marking the largest increase over other Greek destinations, while Jet2 confirmed a 19 percent increase in seats for Makedonia Airport, an increase in flights to 11 weekly in 2023, and the extension of the season with the launch of its first flights on April 1.

British Airways is also scheduled to begin 2023 flights on March 27 while TUI is expected to increase its weekly connections to Thessaloniki to eight.

Halkidiki Hotels Association & Halkidiki Tourism Organization President Grigoris Tasios (center) with (from left) GNTO Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis, Thessaloniki Deputy Mayor of Culture and Tourism Maria Karagianni, Greek Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development Olympia Anastasopoulou, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Halkidiki Tourism Organization General Director George Broutzas.

During WTM, HTO President and head of the Halkidiki Hotels Association Grigoris Tasios met with government officials, airline and hotel executives and UK tour operators, including Jet2 & Jet2 holidays, TUΙ, easyJet & Easy Holidays.

Tasios said “systematic work” had paid off and was reflected in the Jet2’s decision to start its program earlier than ever before on April 1, 2023 and British Airways from March 27, 2023 at Makedonia Airport.

Halkidiki Hotels Association & Halkidiki Tourism Organization President Grigoris Tasios with Greek Travel Pages (GTP) CEO Maria Theofanopoulou.

In its 42nd year, WTM London was back to its fully live, pre-pandemic format, at London’s ExCeL expo center during November 7-9.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is an official media partner of WTM London.