An increase in sales for Greece from Western European markets, but at a slower pace than expected, is currently being recorded for 2025 by the B2B travel products and services company Peakpoint Travel, which collaborates with Tour Operators and travel companies.
As the Head of Strategic Customers of Peakpoint Travel, Ms. Cosmina Surdu, stated in her statements to Tornos News during the international tourism exhibition ITB in Berlin, the sales season for Greece – but also for Turkey – is starting at a slightly slower pace compared to other destination countries.
On the large islands, most of the demand
Crete, Rhodes, and Corfu are some of the most sought-after islands from the markets of W. Europe, followed by the smaller Greek islands, while Santorini is affected to some extent this year until the situation there stabilizes, Ms. Surdu noted.
Greece has many repeat visitors, she added, and this is an advantage for the country. At the same time, the average stay in Greece and the islands is 7 days, with the exception of Athens where mainly 2 or 3 nights are spent.
Peakpoint operates in all markets in Western Europe, with the main ones being Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain and France, providing a representative picture of demand for the year.
All destinations are recording a slowdown, according to the company’s Head of Strategic Customers, with the exception of Egypt, with high levels of demand in January and February, and Tunisia.
“Rigidity” in payments is hurting demand
A key factor influencing this development is the prices and high advance payments for reservations, with hotels asking for 100% of the advance payment, which is excessive, as she said. For this reason, she stressed, we need a more flexible payment policy in order to have better planning and avoid empty seats in hotels. “We cannot wait until the last minute to fill the hotels, we need to make correct calculations, and we want the help of hoteliers in this,” said Ms. Surdu.
“Greece is expensive for its level of services”
She also expressed her concern about price levels in Greece. “Greece is expensive for the level of services it offers,” she emphasized, in contrast to expensive Spain, where the services are excellent.
A balance needs to be found in prices, she said, which cannot rise 20% from year to year, in order to have stable and healthy tourism. In Greece, the price increase compared to last year, she said, ranges between 10% and 20%, depending on the hotel.
At the same time, the political scene in Greece and the demonstrations, which do not help tourism, as well as inflation that weakens purchasing power, should also be included in the equation.
Investments in infrastructure are necessary
What Greece needs are investments in infrastructure such as sidewalks and the road network, things that tourists see as soon as they arrive at the destination. “The same sidewalks that were there 20 years ago cannot remain. It is a matter of the image of the destination,” stressed Ms. Surdu.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
