With bookings reportedly at very high levels, the long weekend ending on Clean Monday, which begins the Orthodox period of Lent, followed by a second long weekend ending on the March 25 independence day holiday, is serving as a “dress rehearsal” for many of Greece’s tourism destinations.
Domestic tourists are giving a vote of confidence to several destinations on the mainland, according to FedHATTA President Lysandros Tsilidis, as well as the destinations known for their festive atmosphere during carnival season.
Patras, Xanthi, Skyros, Rethymno, Naoussa, Kastoria, Tirnavos, Kozani, Ioannina, Kefallonia, Rhodes, Amfissa, Kalamata, Galaxidi and Corfu had accommodation filled to 90% capacity this long weekend in Greece.
Package tours were also very popular, with sales up 10 per cent compaed to 2023, which had in turn seen a 30% rise relative to 2022, while prices remained competitive, Tsilidis said.
Once the long weekends favoured by domestic tourists are concluded, tourism destinations are preparing to receive visitors from abroad, with the majority of resorts opening for business in early April and virtually all of them open for the Orthodox Easter holidays in May.
Source: ANA-MPA