The plan to extend the tourist season in Greece was presented by Tourism Minister Vasilis Kikilias in an interview with CNN Greece.
Mr. Kikilias describes «tourism development» as a «matter of national importance» and refers to the agreements with tourism groups and tour operators that have already been concluded to achieve this goal, as well as “the share of growth that tourism returns to society and to the average Greek family.”.
«Last week, we agreed with the Der Touristik Group to place further emphasis on attracting customers through co-marketing during the months of October, November, and December 2022. Previously, we had agreed with Norwegian Cruise Line on 200,000 cruise passengers in 2022, from March 2, 2022, to November 22, 2022—months considered off-season. At the same time, in our discussion with the CEO of Jet2, a leading tour operator in the UK market, we agreed to launch flights to Greek destinations in early spring, with Athens included for the first time. And we will continue in this direction with all our strategic partners, both old and new. All things being equal, the Greek summer of 2022 will begin in the spring,» notes Mr. Kikilias.
The Minister of Tourism identifies the extension of the tourist season—through support for winter destinations and city breaks in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other cities, as well as—as the Prime Minister has emphasized—the development of a new sustainable tourism model that will effectively address the environmental footprint. It also sets as priorities for tourism policy the attraction of new investments, the strengthening of infrastructure, and the preservation of quality and authenticity.
When asked about the latest polls and the current political climate, the Minister of Tourism emphasized that «New Democracy remains, consistently, the dominant political force trusted by the Greek people, with Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Prime Minister. The government is delivering tangible results that keep society afloat. We are continuing with a people-oriented approach and a patriotic spirit,» Mr. Kikilias emphasized.
