More positive messages regarding Greek tourism are arriving from Germany and Austria, pointing to a significant increase in arrivals this year.

German tour operator Alltours has so far recorded a 10 percent rise in bookings for Greek destinations this season, with its chairman stating that «Greece has overcome the crisis of the previous couple of years and is back in its good old shape."

Rhodes has seen a major increase of 25 percent in bookings from Germany, followed by Crete, up 15 percent. Individual bookings for Samos, the Cyclades and Thasos are also on the rise.

Meanwhile Austria’s Ruefa-Verkehrsburo Group has noted an increase of 35 percent year-on-year in bookings for Greek package holidays.

The rise in bookings is likely to cover most of the losses registered in 2012. Every year some 500,000 visit Greece from Austria.

Greece will apparently benefit again from the turbulent situation in Egypt, which has seen bookings from Germany drop by 15 percent.