2013, a record year for Greek tourism
According to the temporary data announced by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), the overall increase in number of arrivals at the major airports across the country reached 10.23% compared to the year 2012. This increase is based on the comparison of last year’s data with the ones obtained this year for the exact same period - between January and September -.
Estimations suggest that the number of international arrivals will reach a total of 17.5 million, thus, presenting a record for our country while direct revenue from the tourism industry will reach 11.5 billion euro.
The same data also shows that the airport ''N. Kazantzakis'' at the city of Heraklion in Crete presented the greatest mobility with flights landing 2.311.725 foreign tourists and second in rank we see Athens ''Eleftherios Venizelos'' airport with flights landing a total of 2.127.926 tourists. Kalamata airport in the Peloponnese presents the highest increase with 49.74% compared to 2012, as well as, the island of Mykonos with an increase of 27.38%. Santorini airport comes third with an increase of 21.20%, while a significant increase is additionally recorded at the airports of Chania in Crete and the islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea with an increase of 18.77%, 17.75% and 16.13% respectively.
For a detailed table, in Greek, of facts and figures by SETE concerning all main airports across the country, please press here.
The signs we have so far for the year 2013 - both in absolute terms but also in terms of percentages - could only be characterized and considered as positive signs. But, by all means, professionals of the sector should not feel overconfident about them. The value for money factor, the good overall organization, the high level of provided services and the specialization of the staff in the tourism sector, all constitute key factors that should be taken very seriously into consideration by the professionals of the industry.
2014 is fast approaching and we keep receiving optimistic messages. According to leading tour operators, destinations such as the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Kos and Santorini already present high levels of demand for 2014 and there is factual evidence that it is going to be a very good year for Greek tourism in general.
