Travel

Greeks islands and alternative destinations in Europe are on their top 5 list

According to the high-end publication, Paros is currently a 'quieter alternative' to other more touristy Grecian isles, but is rapidly gaining fame

The Athens hotel that once hosted royalty, movie stars, and US presidents is set to re-open in 2025 as ‘The Ilisian’, the capital’s first condo hotel.

The average length of stay for all types of tourist accommodation establishments during April 2024, amounted to 3.1 days.

Reports indicate hotel bookings for the three-day weekend (June 22 to 24) are already between 75% and 80%

In terms of economic impact from conference tourism on national GDP and employment, Greece ranks 47th out of 50 countries, placing it at the bottom among its European peers of comparable size

A sector study entitled focuses on major non-European markets and long-haul travel, specifically the USA, Canada, China, India and Australia

Founded in 1884, the Peloponnese line is Europe’s longest meter-gauge railway network. Services stopped in 2011 as a result of Greece’s debt crisis.

In the Ionian Islands, construction activity not only saw a 58.2% increase but also experienced a 31.3% rise in the number of building permits and a 50.2% increase in area under construction.

Road transport necessitates more decisive actions towards mass transit and active mobility (pedestrians, bicycles), particularly in urban centers and popular tourist spots.

The arrival of more than 32 million tourists is significantly impacting local communities and their essential services.

"Astypalaia is evolving into a sustainable destination, unique on a global scale. The response from travelers to these changes has been remarkable. We anticipate a very promising tourist season," stated the Deputy Mayor of Astypalaia, Kostas Kampylis.

The agenda will focus on crucial matters such as optimizing the allocation of railway capacity across the EU, aiming to improve efficiency in cost, travel time, and environmental impact.

The body of the 70-year-old man, of Greek descent, was discovered in the sea off a secluded beach near a rocky area where he had been vacationing

Additionally, there's been a shift in Greeks' travel from Balkan holidays to traditional West Europe destinations, such as the UK, Germany, France and Italy

PM Mitsotakis announced to Bloomberg on Friday that Greece will impose restrictions on cruise ships visiting popular islands, to combat over-tourism

Citing Cirium figures, UK-based travel website travelweekly.co.uk reports that over 4,000 flights are scheduled to operate from UK airports to Greece in June 2024

Furthermore, Mitsotakis specifically noted pressure on Greece's popular destinations, such as Santorini in the Cyclades.

Adding to the costs, if you decide to buy a light snack, such as a sandwich, coffee, or soft drinks, the total price for two adults and a child can range from 50 to 100 euros.

The need to establish a sustainable model is the primary focus on the agenda of both the government and the tourism industry.