Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias referred to the strategy for extending the tourist season that is already bringing results, speaking on ERT1«s »With a new look".
«I have a feeling that this year, in 2022, the end of the season will coincide with the end of the year,» he said, as the signals coming from the major tour operators are very encouraging. As an indication, he said that Der Turistik and Apollo - the second tour operator in Germany and the first in Scandinavia, respectively - are already booking travel packages for October, November and December with destinations in Rhodes, Kos, Corfu and Athens. At the same time, direct flights from the US are being extended until early winter for which tickets have become a rush and are now hard to find for August and September.
Mr.Kikilias made special reference to Karpathos -where he himself is for the three days of the Holy Spirit- and to the hundreds of beautiful, though not so popular destinations in Greece, for which the Ministry of Tourism implements a specific plan so that they have already been «illuminated» and upgraded for tourism.
«I remember, a few years ago, Epirus was the poorest region in Europe and we were saying how difficult it was for its inhabitants. So now, Ioannina, Aristi, Metsovo, Papigo, are destinations that are sold out throughout the year. There are so many beautiful alternative destinations in Greece, inhabited islands, mainland destinations, in northern Greece, in southern Greece. I want to tell you that here, Karpathos, already has a lot of tourists, a lot of people. Germans, French, Belgians, Belgians, Austrians, Scandinavians,» the minister said, noting that the hoteliers and shopkeepers he spoke with say they are very pleased with the increased tourist flows seen on the island early this year. «Come and see the prices in Karpathos, they are excellent for Greek travellers and of course for foreigners. It is worth it to support and enhance such a beautiful destination as Karpathos. It is one of the jewels of the Aegean» he said.
B. Kikilias also referred to northern Evia and Samos, for which a special discount pass has been provided for those who choose them for their holidays. «We should support all of Greece. It is a patriotic duty for all of us,» he said.
