Greece sees 21.5 per cent jump in visitors in October
This autumn Greece welcomed more tourists than ever before. According SETE (The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises) - 847,000 visitors arrived in Greece in October 2013 – a significant 21.5 per cent increase in comparison to 697,000 arrivals in October 2012.

Herakleion Airport saw the biggest increase, with 2.5 million tourists arriving from January to October 2013, while for the same period of 2012, there were 2.1 million recorded arrivals.

From the beginning of this year, international arrivals have grown by 10.9%, with more than 12.3 million visitors coming to Greece between January and October, compared to just over 11 million during the same period last year (Source: SETE).

According to the Bank of Greece the travel balance in September grew by 17.2 per cent (from €1.7 million in September 2012 to €2 million in September 2013).

Tourism Minister Calls for VAT to stay low to boost tourism

During her visit to World Travel Market in London in November, the Minister of Tourism Mrs Olga Kefalogianni, called on international inspectors from the world financial community not to push for VAT increases.

Speaking at World Travel Market in London, she said: “It is very important to reach an agreement with the troika but it has to be a sustainable solution for Greek society. In terms of tourism it is important to maintain the VAT cut on food and beverages as it boosts the competitiveness of the tourism sector.”

With tourism accounting for 18 per cent of GDP and 16 per cent of employment, Kefalogianni argues that Greece’s future financial stability is dependent on the tourism sector.

She said: “There are always pressures to raise taxes but I feel as though we have reached our maximum ability. If you stimulate demand in certain sectors of the economy – such as tourism - by lowering taxes, it can have a long-term effect of boosting the economy. It is out of the question to talk about more horizontal taxation, we have done everything we can.”

Kefalogianni plans to boost the sector by extending the season into spring and autumn and highlighting niche sectors of the market such as adventure, MICE and culinary tourism.

Following Kefalogianni’s visit, Christina Kalogera The GNTO Director UK & Ireland office announced that both the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the 44 co-exhibitors from Greece, who had an extensive programme of events, had enjoyed a very successful World Travel Market 2013.

Kalogera said: “I’m delighted with the level of attendance at WTM and with the level of business conducted between the GNTO supporting exhibiting partners and trade visitors. Our exhibition stand was busy and well-attended throughout the show and there was a real sense of activity and optimism. Our partners have conducted a high level of business with senior contacts and we now look forward to building on this success throughout 2014."
 

Developing a National Communication Strategy

The Minister of Tourism Mrs Olga Kefalogianni, at her recent presentation at the Philoxenia Exhibition in Thessaloniki, expressed optimism for tourism in Greece in 2014 as early indications suggest positive growth for the tourism season.

Mrs Kefalogianni also pointed out her wish to develop a national communication strategy with Greece’s regions to successfully promote the country domestically and abroad.

The pillars of this strategy will be:

• address the stereotypes caused at Greece’s expense by the crisis
• strengthen the brand “Greece” around the world
• properly present and support several regional destinations
• increase promotion on destination Greece to place the country among the five most famous around the world

Medical Tourism in Greece

On the 25 November the Minister of Tourism Mrs Olga Kefalogianni along with Health Minister Mr Adonis Georgiadis, co-signed a Joint Ministerial Decision that outlines the conditions for the practice of medical tourism in Greece. According to the decision, public and private medical tourism providers will be listed in a special register for medical tourism that will be supervised by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO). All registered medical tourism providers will bear a special GNTO seal.

The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with GNTO, is currently conducting a market research abroad, in order to assist stakeholders in their efforts to attract international medical tourism visitors.

The ultimate aim is to turn Greece into a destination that combines medical services with leisure travel. For this reason, actions are currently under preparation to provide information to all stakeholders for the creation of synergies.
 

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Contact: Dimitra Voziki, Head of Media & PR and Deputy Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation.  Tel.: +44(0)20-7495-9310,  E-mail: media@gnto.co.uk