Tourism in Greece beats competition

By Stathis Kousounis

Greece has in the first months of the year recorded far greater growth rates in foreign tourism arrivals and in travel revenues than its direct competitors in the region, according to official data.

Civil Aviation Authority figures suggest an 11.8 percent yearly rise in air arrivals from abroad in the first quarter of the year to 980,432, while even domestic arrivals have grown by 1.7 percent to 945,715.

Travel revenues in January-February grew 17.3 percent year-on-year to 294.1 million euros, according to Bank of Greece data.

In Cyprus, foreign arrivals in Q1 dropped 7.8 percent and revenues in January fell 0.5 percent, official figures showed.

Spain witnessed a 7.2 percent rise in Q1 arrivals from abroad and revenues in the same period grew 8.1 percent.

Turkey had a 3.2 percent rise in foreign visitors in January-March with revenues growing by 11.1 percent.