Published on : Thursday, February 21, 2019
The tourism sector started faring well overall after the introduction of self-catering accommodation while putting significant pressure on small boutique hotels and rooms for rent to implement more investments, not only to carry out renovations, but also to offer higher levels of services for travel-savvy and demanding customers.
Is this enough though for the long-term prosperity of the businesses and people who rely on tourism to make a living?
Yes, but on one critical condition: that Greece defines and implements a medium-term strategic plan that will allow the country to stand out from the competition and ensure sustainable growth irrespective of geopolitical factors in what is a turbulent neighbourhood, primarily around and over the Aegean Sea.
In recent years, the overall impression was that Greek tourism has been running on autopilot, mainly based on the foundations laid in the early 2010s as well as the exploitation of uncertainty in terms of safety in the Middle East and North Africa.
Still, experience and commitment are inherent among the leaders of the tourism industry in Greece, along with philoxenia (a love of offering hospitality to the foreigner/stranger), one of the main characteristics of Greek culture.
The recent privatisation of 14 airports around Greece serves as a guarantee for improved services and a better first impression for our valuable visitors. Along with the long-awaited launch of the strategic project involving the development of the old Athens airport at Elliniko on the city’s southern coast and the upcoming privatization of marinas around the country, important steps are being taken toward upgrading key infrastructure and entry points for tourists.
Significant concessions for the construction or completion of new, modern and safer highways are also in progress.
Given the above, people from all over the world have every reason to visit Greece, not just once, but again and again. A consistent marketing plan depicting all of the country’s competitive advantages would be the best tool to penetrate markets and groups.
Tags: Greek tourism