Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) secretary general Dimitris Tryfonopoulos during a press conference, in the presence of Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, welcomed the positive tourism performance in 2016.
GNTO organised a series of actions for the promotion of Greece in 2016, Tryfonopoulos said adding that this was reflected in this year’s figures that were double compared to the previous year.
On her part, Kountoura said that the new strategy has started to bear fruit and stressed the ministry’s actions aiming to the opening to new markets.
The contribution of tourism to the GDP reached 20 pct in 2016, Tryfonopoulos stated. The organisation, he added, made 252 familiarization trips to less popular Greek destinations, hosting 344 journalists, 52 bloggers, and 382 tour operators for their promotion.
Moreover, GNTO supported the destinations that were mainly hit by the refugee crisis, organising familiarization trips to Lesvos, Chios, Kos. This campaign was very successful, he said, as the impact of the refugee crisis on Chios was limited to -3 pct compared to 53 pct last year. He also stressed that arrivals may close on a positive territory. “We can change the situation,” he said.
Kountoura noted that the signs for next year are rather positive. She explained that airliners have increased their flights for next year and especially to less known destinations. At the same time Greece, Kountoura noted, achieved high occupancy rates in hotels in 2016, according to international analysis. In the 10-month period, revenue per available room increased 5.5 pct, with the average price rising by 3.2 pct and reaching 118 euros.
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