Greek Tourism Confederation

Despite the mainly fiscal measures the government imposed last fall, the supply of short-term rentals continues to soar. In terms of available beds it is now greater than that of the hotel market, while for the first time this summer it is expected to exceed the limit of 1 million beds.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed on Thursday that "tourism development should be sustainable, resilient, fair and participatory" and that "the dividend of growth should be distributed as fairly as possible throughout the country."

Infrastructure, destination management, investment and competitiveness, employment, and sustainability are the five central priorities for the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), according to what its president, Yiannis Paraschis, pointed out on Thursday during its 32nd Annual General Meeting, stressing that "the growth momentum of the strong Greece brand built in recent years shows significant

Greece is now fifth on the list of destinations that travelers from the three largest European markets, namely Germany, the United Kingdom and France, want to visit in the next 12 months.

About 20% of respondents in a large survey conducted in each of these markets want to travel to Greece.

Ferries will depart on Thursday and Friday with a 100% occupancy rate, to serve the Easter travelers, while there are very few airline seats that remain available on the Aegean Airlines network for trips either in Greece or abroad.

Despite promising signs for other parts of the country as regards the number of flights and seat bookings for the 2024 tourism season, Mykonos is seeing a decline in both indices for the second year in a row.

The turnover generated by the accommodation of guests in short-term rental accommodation has increased significantly compared to previous years and is now approaching 30% of the turnover made by hotel units.

US travelers are proving the fastest growing national group of tourists. Not only are they increasing at rates of more than 10% per year, but the average per capita expenditure per trip is at least 50% higher than any other nationality.

The abolition of the minimum width of beach zones that can be commercially exploited, the removal of leasing responsibilities from municipalities, and the level of coastal protection in Natura areas were the focus of most observations by social bodies participating in Wednesday's House committee discussion of the Finance Ministry's draft law. 

There are growing indications that Greek tourism, after a record year in 2023, is headed for further growth of around 10% this year.