Schengen News: Tourism in Greece Reached 75% of Pre-Pandemic Levels in September, Minister Says

Greek tourism has almost fully recovered as it has reached the pre-pandemic levels, the Minister of Tourism, Vasilis Kikilia, has revealed. The same noted that in 2021 it reached 75 per cent of 2019’s arrivals, and the country had reached its goal to generate 50 per cent of the revenues reached in 2019.

In a radio interview for Skai, Minister Kikilia said tourism has increased by 79.2 per cent compared to 2020 and counted 8.6 million travellers compared to 14.8 million in 2020, as the Bank of Greece data reveals.

Tourism reached its peak in August by welcoming four million travellers and marking an increase of 125.5 per cent compared to the same time in the previous year. Whereas in September, accommodation facilities in Greece welcomed 2.3 million travellers, noting a surge of 110 per cent compared to September 2020, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Furthermore, the Minister also noted that Greece has gained a reputation as a popular mountain destination and has reached 100 per cent of its occupancy, meaning that the goal of sustainable tourism products, thus year-round tourism, is slowly starting to occur.

“For the first time after 71 years, the German tour operators held their annual conference in our country, in Costa Navarino, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, EOT, HATTA / FedHATTA and the private sector. We had 450 very big tour operators, from TUI to Condor, which is still flying to Crete and Rhodes and will fly all of November,” the Minister noted.

Moreover, he also pointed out that airlines from the UK, France, Germany, and the US are discussing increasing the number of available seats from 30 to 50 per cent.

The Greek government promotes the country as a sustainable tourism model and a lasting tourist experience, multiplying the number of destinations.

In this context, the Minister said they are preparing a strategy, which we will be announced in the winter, and will include a model of management and responsibilities, based on the management of water resources and solid waste, the way of transportation to and from our islands, the management of cruise, the extension of the tourist season but also the destinations.

Previously, the country was highly acclaimed by the World Travel Awards for its tourism management amid the pandemic and was announced as the top destination in Europe for 2021.

From May 13 to October 17, more than 1.3 million visitors have been registered in the Rhodes region. Moreover, from October 1 to 17, 163,997 visitors have been noted for the autumn season, marking a 203.6 per cent increase compared to the previous year.