Statistics

Rise in UK visitors to Greece in 2016

Greece received approximately 2.4 million UK visitors between January and September 2016, an increase of 15.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Bank of Greece.

According to GFK, bookings made between January and November 2016 saw an increase of 4 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, while there was a 21 per cent year-on-year increase in forward bookings for 2017 during the same period. November 2016 also saw a 24 per cent increase in forward bookings for the year ahead compared the same month in 2016.

Hotel Openings / Developments

Eco-friendly hotel opens on Crete

A new eco-friendly, sustainable, smart hotel has opened on the island of Crete. The Olive Green Hotel is the first of its kind on the island and combines environmentally-friendly architecture and technology, as well utilising renewable energy and the latest recycling operations. The 48-room hotel also has its own restaurant and café that serves seasonal menus from local produce, house coffee blends and Cretan wines. For more information please see here or here.

Major refurbishment for Astir Palace resort in Vouliagmeni

The landmark coastal Astir Palace resort in the Athens suburb of Vouliagmeni is set to reopen in early 2018 following an extensive redevelopment that includes the renovation of the Arion and Nafsika hotels, 13 individual apartments, a new park and an upgrade of the marina. The resort, located 20km from Athens, will benefit from €600 million in funding with the aim of establishing Astir Palace as a world-class destination for visitors. The redevelopment will carefully consider the palace's cultural heritage and the surrounding natural environment. For more information, please see here and here.

New Flight Routes

New routes to Preveza, Rhodes and Kefalonia from EasyJet

EasyJet has unveiled three new flight routes from the UK to Greece in 2017 including:

• Rhodes to London Luton – departing twice a week from 27 May from £37 (one way)
• Preveza to Manchester – departing twice a week from 21 May £30 (one way)
• Kefalonia to Bristol – departing twice a week from 22 April from £30 (one way)

The low-cost airline will have more than 2.6 million seats to and from Greece in 2017. (www.easyjet.com)

New Tours

Intrepid unveil two new Greek tours

Adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel has introduced two new tours for 2017 including the 'Real Food Adventure', a nine-day tour that travels from Athens through the Saronic islands – available from £1650pp (not including flights). Guests visit olive groves in the Peloponnese region, cook with locals in Paros and savour iconic Greek flavours such as ouzo and olive oil. As part of Intrepid Travel's new sailing range, there is also the 10-day 'Greece Sailing Adventure' from £1,139pp, where travellers island hop through the Cyclades islands. www.intrepidtravel.com

Destination Updates

New tourism partnership to promote Athens as year-round destination

The City of Athens, AEGEAN and Athens International Airport (AIA) have joined forces to promote the Greek capital as a year-round city break destination as part of their 'Athens Tourism Partnership'. The Mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, stated that Athens has everything it needs to be a popular city break across the calendar, praising the partnership as the first initiative towards this goal. Marking the start of the cooperation is the 'One City - Never Ending Stories' campaign that showcases the variety of activities to do in the city. For more information, please see here. 

Momoeria tradition added to UNESCO cultural list

The centuries old 'Momoeria' custom has been added to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The 12-day festivities marking Christmas, New Year's and the Epiphany (on January 6) are held in eight villages in the Kozani area, Western Macedonia, with the purpose of wishing the community prosperity in the year ahead, as well as the protection of the natural resources. Dancers and musicians perform in the villages, including 30 male dancers – the Momoeria – who dance for the safety of the local residents. For more information, please see here.

Greek hotels awarded across various categories

• The Myconian Collection of Hotels, Resorts & Villas on Mykonos island in Greece recently received the 2016 Classic Europe Hotel Chain of the Year Award during the 2016 Classic Europe Annual Awards – see here.
• Hotel Perivoli wins the Luxury Travel Guide Service Award - Peloponnese for the second year in a row at The Luxury Travel Guide Awards – see here.
• The Aenaon Villas on Santorini in Greece won the title of the World's Most Romantic Hotel at the World Boutique Hotel Awards 2016 – see here.
• The Costa Navarino resort in the Peloponnese has been honoured as the 2017 European Golf Resort of the Year at the IAGTO Awards – see here.

For more information on what to see and do in Greece, please visit www.visitgreece.gr.

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For further press information, please contact: Tim Thackray, Lotus, T: 020 7953 7470 E: Tim@wearelotus.co.uk or the Greek National Tourism Organisation, GNTO UK & Ireland Office, T: 020 74959311, E: pr@gnto.co.uk