ECONOMY

Moderate rise anticipated in tourist total

Moderate rise anticipated in tourist total

Tourism arrivals in Greece will not increase by more than 10 percent in 2016 compared to the record number seen in 2015, according to the regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean at TUI Destination Services, Michalis Mavropoulos.

Speaking at the 1st International Tourism Conference in Thessaloniki, titled “Tourism: Pillar for the New Economic Model of the Country,” organized by five bilateral chambers of commerce, Mavropoulos stated that while there are countries such as Turkey where cancellations reach up to 40 percent, a part of that is not coming to Greece but is rather heading to Spain.

On Cyprus, Mavropoulos added that arrivals are expected to grow at double-digit rates this year, compared with 2015.

The head of Navigator Travel and Tourist Services, Andreas Stylianopoulos, stressed the need for a clear national vision while also being in favor of the modernization of the tourism product both in the private and public sectors.

On the cruise domain, Stylianopoulos said that “in Greece we have to become more flexible because cruise passengers nowadays are well-traveled and are not easily persuaded to select a route to see a monument unless there is also something original on offer.”

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