Awaiting the holidays to cover a significant portion of their operating expenses and with considerable anxiety about the last minute (last minute) reservations are hoteliers in winter, mainly mountainous areas that have been severely affected by the pandemic.
We are already in the first days of December and the climate of uncertainty is keeping average occupancy rates nationwide at 50% to 60%, with the exception of certain destinations, such as the prefecture of Ioannina, mountainous Arcadia, mountainous Magnesia, and Arachova, which are in higher demand according to reservations, as reported by the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX), Grigoris Tasios.
The factors that give cause for optimism, as Mr. Tasios explains, are, on the one hand, the fact that Greece is not in lockdown and, on the other hand, that due to the restrictive measures being taken by major European capitals, people who choose not to travel abroad will turn to domestic destinations, and this will probably become apparent after the first half of December.
The Epirus Region remains a popular destination, with Zagori, the region comprising 46 villages, recording occupancy rates exceeding 80% until November, and reservations showing similar or higher rates (80%-90%) for the holiday season.
The corresponding percentages in Metsovo and the Tzoumerka range between 60% and 70% so far, according to the president of Metsovo Hoteliers Association, Stergios Kassaros.
«In the current climate, family businesses are the most resilient, and this is, if you like, one of Metsovo's strengths,» says Mr. Kassaros. «Keep in mind that Metsovo has 15 hotels with 700 beds and 300 apartments, for a total of about 1,000 beds,» he adds.
Florina -one of four destinations featured in the first spots of the winter campaign expected to be run by the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) - along with Kastoria and the Nymphaeum have been a constant choice for visitors over the years.
This year, with the situation being so uncertain, professionals are skeptical but recognize that if there is no surge in the pandemic, they will be able to discuss 100% fullness during the holidays, as pointed out by Iordanis Michailidis, president of Association of Hoteliers of Western Macedonia.
«However, we must point out that, at the moment, only about half of the hotels in our area are operating, and this is due to the pandemic,» explains Mr. Michailidis. «So when we talk about 100% occupancy, we cannot compare it with that of 2019, as we are referring to a number of hotels that has been reduced by almost half compared to then,» he clarifies.
There is intense interest in Magnesia and especially for the Volos and the Pelion, as stated by the deputy mayor of Volos, Georgia Bontou-Tokali, as the city's illuminations have created a particularly festive atmosphere.
«However, reservations are currently at 50%, and most people are waiting for the holiday season to approach before making their final decisions due to the pandemic. People have a need to travel, and this is evident from the phone calls and inquiries they are making to hoteliers. It is still early, we cannot compare it to the pre-pandemic era, especially since 2014, when, due to the festive events, the entire region, even the coastal areas, reached 100% in occupancy,» notes the deputy mayor. «Our hoteliers are ready, though., Pinocchio Park spectacular, and if the health situation does not change, people will come. However, we are only expecting Greeks, whereas in previous years we had many visitors from abroad. After all, there are quite a few Europeans who have holiday homes in Pelion.
«It is not easy to break away from the sun-sea model and promote the mountainous part of Greece, but we are looking at a three-year period starting today,» says Sofia Flega, president of Evrytania Hoteliers Association, as the first spots of the EOT's winter campaign, apart from Zagori and the Florina turned to Karpenisi and the Dimitsana.
«In Karpenisi, there are 1,500 hotel beds and just as many in rentals. Right now, reservations are only at 20%, while in 2019, occupancy rates were around 60% in early December and reached 100% during the holidays,» he notes.
After the very optimistic messages of October 28 and the weekends that followed, in mountainous Arcadia There was a trend, which until two weeks ago indicated that Christmas would see very high occupancy rates, with advance bookings exceeding 85%. This was followed by a wave of cancellations, which fortunately, according to the president of the Peloponnese Tourism Promotion Organization and professor at the University of West Attica in the Department of Tourism Management, «Therefore, if nothing changes, we expect Christmas occupancy rates to exceed 80% so far, and of course we will have many last-minute bookings,» he emphasizes.
The most popular destinations are the triptych Vytina-Dimitsana-Stemnitsa, as pointed out by the mountainous region of Corinthia, the Trikala, Corinthia.
«It is very important for hotels to operate during the holiday season, because the revenue will cover a large part of their operating expenses. The advantage of our region is that we are close to the metropolitan center of Athens and people can come by car safely,» adds Mr. Marinakos.
In the Peloponnese, Of the total 1,000 hotel units available, the percentage relating to mountainous areas is around 30-35%. «The pandemic," notes Mr. Marinakos, "was a great learning experience and further intensified the trend toward individual travelers, more nature-oriented activities, and more environmentally friendly travel.
For this reason, the tourism industry must be prepared to react quickly and invest in innovation and digital transformation.
