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Tag: tourism in greece

  • Greece to open the 2021 tourism season on May 14

    Greece to open the 2021 tourism season on May 14

    Greece will officially open the tourist season on May 14, and tourists must prove anti Covid-19 vaccination, antibodies or take a negative test.

    In addition, they will wear a mask in all public spaces.

    Until then, Greece will gradually lift the restrictions, if allowed by medical estimates and the evolution of the pandemic.

    Even more, all tourists can be subjected to random tests, in the same way as last year.

    A significant difference from last year is the ”rapid tests”, due to which the quarantine for positive cases will be instituted immediately, without the waiting time of 24 hours in 2020.

  • Greek accommodation and food, beverage services recorded big decrease in turnover

    Greek accommodation and food, beverage services recorded big decrease in turnover

    For accommodation activities in Greece, the turnover in 2020 amounted to 2,303,658,141 euro, recording a decrease of 67.0%.

    In 2019 the respective turnover was 6,991,184,282 euro.

    The largest decrease in turnover in 2020 compared with 2019 was recorded in Karpathos (83.5%) and the smallest decrease (14.3%) was recorded in Florina.

    For the enterprises in Food and Beverage Service Activities, the turnover in 2020 amounted to 3,773,850,833 euro.

    This is a 37.7% decrease in comparison with 2019, when the respective turnover was 6,059,184,851 euro.

    The largest decrease in turnover was recorded in Mykonos (73.3%) and and Santorini (71%), while the respective smallest decrease (17.3%) was recorded in Korinthia.

  • The Covid-19 vaccination certificate is not mandatory for travel to Greece

    The Covid-19 vaccination certificate is not mandatory for travel to Greece

    The vaccination certificate will not be a precondition for someone who wants to travel to Greece, said Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis, cited by Novinite.

    Theoharis explained that coronavirus tests will be performed by those who are not vaccinated, but it remains to be seen what will happen, depending on the decisions of the health authorities, who will determine whether the tests will be requested for all visitors.

    He added that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ proposal to the president of the European Commission was meant to shake the waters so that the EU could coordinate the vaccination issue.

    On Tuesday, Mitsotakis called for the creation of an EU-wide COVID-19 vaccination certificate to help relaunch pandemic-ravaged cross-border travel.

    Greek government announced that it will provide 25 million euros in funding for a tourism promotion campaign, in an attempt to attract more visitors this year.

    Greece’s tourism revenues last year reached 4 billion euros, compared to 18 billion euros in 2019, due to global travel restrictions.

  • Greece tourism is set to recover next summer

    Greece tourism is set to recover next summer

    Greece’s tourism sector is set to recover next summer said Yannis Retsos, head of the Hellenic Tourism Confederation (SETE), to Reuters.

    The tourism sector in Greece, severely affected by the pandemic, is crucial for the country’s economy, given that it is responsible for about 20% of the GDP and one in five employees works in this field.

    Greece’s tourism revenues stood at 4 billion euros this year, compared to 18 billion euros in 2019, due to global travel restrictions, said Yannis Retsos.

    According to data recently released by the Central Bank of Greece, arrivals of foreign visitors fell by 76% in the first ten months of this year.

    In 2019, Greece registered a record year with over 34 million visitors.

  • Greece: Travel receipts in September 2020 fell by 71.4%

    Greece: Travel receipts in September 2020 fell by 71.4%

    Travel receipts in Greece, in September, 2020 fell by 71.4% to €826 million, from €2,886 million in September 2019, while travel payments also decreased by 77.1% (September 2020: €49 million, September 2019: €214 million).

    The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 73.9% decline in inbound traveller flows, as average expenditure per trip rose by 12.1%.

    Net receipts from travel services offset 52.1% of the goods deficit and accounted for 72.8% of total net receipts from services.

    Based on Bank of Greece latest data, the balance of travel services in September 2020 showed a surplus of €777 million, compared with a surplus of €2,672 million in September 2019.

    In January-September travel receipts fell by 78.2%

    Travel receipts fell by €12,598 million or 78.2% to €3,509 million, while travel payments also decreased, by €1,371 million or 68.1% to €641 million.

    The drop in travel receipts stemmed from a 2.2% fall in average expenditure per trip and a 77.2% decrease in inbound traveller flows.

    Net receipts from travel services offset 20.3% of the goods deficit and accounted for 50.8% of total net receipts from services.

    In January-September 2020, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €2,868 million, down from a surplus of €14,095 million in the same period of 2019.

  • Over 80% less visitors for Greek museums and archaeological sites this year

    Over 80% less visitors for Greek museums and archaeological sites this year

    During the six-month period from January to June 2020 compared to the corresponding period of 2019, a decrease of 80.1% was observed in the number of visitors of museums, while a decrease of 78.2% was recorded in the number of free admission visitors and an 86.7% decrease in the relevant receipts.

    The operation of museums had been suspended from March 14th until June 15 th 2020.

    As regards archaeological sites, during the six-month period from January to June 2020 compared to the corresponding period of 2019, a decrease of 85.3% was recorded in the number of visitors, while an 83.2% decrease was observed in the number of free admission visitors and a 90.3% decrease in the relevant receipts.

    The operation of archaeological sites had been suspended from March 14th to May 17th 2020.

  • The average price per hotel room in Athens crash under €100 per night

    The average price per hotel room in Athens crash under €100 per night

    The average price per hotel room in Athens was €78.95 in January-July 2020, from €105.57 in the same period last year, shows ekathimerini.com

    In July, it decreased even more at €69.49, from €121.32 a year ago.

    Earnings per available room fell 62% this year, to €30.99, from €81.56 in January-July 2019. In July 2020, earnings were down 76.7%, from €108.69 in 2019 to €25.36 this year.

    Data was provided by the Athens, Attica and Saronic Gulf Hoteliers’ Association and GBR Consulting.

  • Greece: Travel receipts fell by 97.5% in June 2020

    Greece: Travel receipts fell by 97.5% in June 2020

    Travel receipts in June 2020 fell by 97.5% to €64 million, from €2,558 million in June 2019, while travel payments also decreased by 81.3% (June 2020: €36 million, June 2019: €195 million).

    The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 93.8% decline in inbound traveller flows and a 58.7% decrease in average expenditure per trip.

    Net receipts from travel services offset 2.1% of the goods deficit and accounted for 9.2% of total net receipts from services.

    In January-June 2020, the number of inbound visitors fell by 76.9% to 2,178 thousand (January-June 2019: 9,407 thousand).

    Specifically, visitor flows through airports declined by 84.6% and visitor flows through road border-crossing points fell by 55.4%.

    In the period under review, visitors from within the EU27 dropped by 78.6% year-on-year to 1,131 thousand, while visitors from outside the EU27 decreased by 74.7% to 1,046 thousand.

    The number of visitors from within the euro area fell by 85.5%, while visitors from non-euro area EU27 countries dropped by 64.4%.

    Specifically, the number of visitors from Germany fell by 89.1% to 148 thousand, while visitors from France decreased by 93.4% to 35 thousand.

    Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of visitors from the United Kingdom fell by 89.4% to 117 thousand, while visitors from the United States dropped by 79.6% to 86 thousand and visitors from Russia decreased by 85.8% to 22 thousand.

  • Greece: In May 2020 travel receipts declined by 99.2% year-on-year

    Greece: In May 2020 travel receipts declined by 99.2% year-on-year

    Travel receipts declined by 99.2% year-on-year, in May 2020, a Bank of Greece report shows. In more detail, receipts from residents of EU27 countries fell by 99.5% to €4 million, while receipts from outside the EU27 decreased by 98.7% (May 2020: €9 million, May 2019: €683 million).

    The lower receipts from within the EU27 were due to decreases in receipts from euro area residents by 99.7% to €2 million (May 2019: €721 million) and in receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries by 97.8% to €3 million.

    Among major countries of origin, the only receipts recorded were from Germany and were very low (down by 99.8% year-on-year).

    In January-May 2020, travel receipts totalled €614 million, down by 78.5% relative to the same period of 2019.

    This development was driven by an 83.1% decline in receipts from residents of EU27 countries, which came to €240 million, and by a 72.1% drop in receipts from residents of non-EU27 countries to €372 million.

    In particular, receipts from euro area residents decreased by 83.9% to €193 million, while receipts from residents of non-euro area EU27 countries fell by 78.8% to €47 million.

    Specifically, receipts from Germany dropped by 89.8% to €50 million and receipts from France fell by 91.3% to €15 million.

    Turning to non-EU27 countries, receipts from the United Kingdom dropped by 86.2% to €51 million and receipts from the United States decreased by 76.4% to €60 million.

    Receipts from Russia also decreased, by 77.2% to €11 million.

  • Travelers to Greece must complete an electronic declaration

    Travelers to Greece must complete an electronic declaration

    From 1 July, all entrants to Greece, regardless of nationality, must complete, at least 48 hours before travel, an electronic declaration on the following website.

    The declaration contains information about the starting point of the traveler, previous trips and stays in other countries, as well as the address where will stay in Greece.

    After filling in the electronic declaration, a unique identification code (QR code) is automatically generated, which must be submitted, in electronic form or on paper, to the local authorities upon arrival in Greece. 

    Passengers without a QR code will not be allowed to enter Grecce.

    Based on the data from the declaration, it is possible that the passenger will be tested for coronavirus on arrival in Greece, and will need to isolate himself until the result.

  • Greece: Travel receipts down by 98.7% in April 2020

    Greece: Travel receipts down by 98.7% in April 2020

    Based on data gathered by The Bank of Greece, the balance of travel services in April 2020 showed an estimated surplus of €5 million, compared with a surplus of €211 million in April 2019, due to the travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Travel receipts in April 2020 fell by 98.7% to €7 million, from €544 million in April 2019, while travel payments also decreased by 99.2% (April 2020: €3 million, April 2019: €332 million).

    The fall in travel receipts resulted from a 96.2% decline in inbound traveller flows and a 62.2% decrease in average expenditure per trip. Net receipts from travel services offset 0.4% of the goods deficit and accounted for 1.2% of total net receipts from services.

    In January-April 2020, the balance of travel services showed a surplus of €190 million, down from a surplus of €376 million in the same period of 2019.

    Travel receipts fell by €664 million or 51.4% to €626 million, while travel payments also decreased, by €478 million or 52.3% to €436 million.

    The drop in travel receipts stemmed from a 21.5% fall in average expenditure per trip and a 36.1% decrease in inbound traveller flows.

    Net receipts from travel services offset 2.8% of the goods deficit and accounted for 12.5% of total net receipts from services.

    Only 38.000 inbound visitors in April

    The number of inbound visitors in April 2020 fell by 96.2% year-on-year to 38 thousand.

    Visitor flows through airports were almost zero, whereas visitor flows through road border-crossing points declined by 88.3%.

    This overall decrease was due to lower visitor flows from both within the EU27 (down 96.1%) and outside the EU27 (down 96.3%).

    Among major countries of origin, there were only some modest visitor flows from Germany, and those were down 99.2% year-on-year.

    How many inbound visitors from each country were registered from January to April 2020

    In January-April 2020, the number of visitors from Germany fell by 53.0% to 134 thousand, while visitors from France decreased by 71.9% to 34 thousand.

    Turning to non-EU27 countries, the number of visitors from the United Kingdom fell by 43.6% to 117 thousand, while visitors from the United States dropped by 44.5% to 86 thousand and visitors from Russia decreased by 48.1% to 22 thousand.