During a meeting with main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras this week, Hellenic Association of Tourism Enterprises (SETE) representatives stated that arrivals in Greece, including cruise passengers, will reach up to 21.5 million this year, while direct revenues will come to 13.5 billion euros. SETE also estimated that tourism growth has led to the creation of as many as 100,000 jobs this year.
According to the Greek daily Kathimerini air arrivals at all Greek airports in the first seven months of the year grew by 15.2 per cent or 1.2 million from last year to reach 9.13 million, with July alone recording more than 3 million arrivals. This growth dwarfs the rise in arrivals at rival destinations, as Spain enjoyed a 7 per cent rise in the year to end-July, while Turkey saw a 6.8 per cent increase.
Cyprus reported a 5.9 per cent increase in air arrivals in the first seven months of the year on an annual basis, reaching 1.28 million.
Source: Ekathimerini