Tourism in Greece

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The Greek tourism industry is a significant economic activity and occupies a dominant position in the Greek economy. Since the 1960’s, Greece has been a popular sun and sea destination. In 2004, the country welcomed over 16.5 million tourists. At the same time, tourism consumption increased considerably since the turn of the millennium, from US$ 17.7 bn. in 2000 to US$ 29.6 bn. in 2004. In 2004, tourism receipts accounted for 14.3% of Greece’s total GDP while the number of jobs directly or indirectly related to the tourism sector were 659,719 and represented 16.5% of the country’s total employment for that year.

According to a survey conducted in China in 2005, Greece was voted as the Chinese people's number one choice as a tourist destination.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2006, Austria , like China, announced that Greece was the favourite destination for tourism giving optimistic hopes for the future.

In 2006 the Greek Ministry of Tourism plans to invest more than 38 million euros in advertising the tourism industry,^{[citation needed]} one of the most essential sectors of the Greek economy, four times the amount spent in 2002 by the previous government. In addition, the government intends to promote winter tourism in Greece, which could potentially increase international arrivals even further.

According to the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the number of hotels in Greece was, by classification (beds):

• AA 155 (56,888),
• A 944 (173,431),
• B 1,712 (233,315),
• C 4,496 (233,315) and
• other 1,729 (59,065).

(ELKE - Hellenic Center for Investment).

Marinas – Conference Centres: There are 373 European awarded «Blue Flag» beaches in Greece and 97% of its beaches are of high quality standards. Greece has 51 marinas and 14,661 mooring places that provide such services as berths, fuel, water and electricity, telephony, and repairs. Some of the most developed and busiest marinas in Greece are just a few kilometres from the centre of Athens. The marinas of Alimos and Flisvos, on the south coast of Athens, have an aggregated capacity of more than 1,800 vessels. Conference tourism, targeted at academic, business, or cultural markets is a cornerstone of the Greek national tourism policy. As a result, the Greek Government, with strong support from local authorities, has been offering lucrative cash grants, leasing and employment subsidies and tax allowances to establish new conference facilities and expand existing ones. In a recent report in Meeting and Incentive Travel, Greece was ranked eighth in the world in overnight stays for conferences. Figures from Tourism Satellite Accounting Research, conducted by WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council), project a worldwide increase in revenues in business travel to Greece from US $1.51 bn. in 2001 to US $2.69 bn. in 2011. In 1998, the figure stood at US $1.18 bn.

Spas, Thermal Springs and Thalassotherapy Centres: Greece has 752 thermo-metallic springs. Many have been classified as therapeutic by the National Institute for Geographical and Mineral Research.

Apart from Athens, other top ranking tourist destinations include the cosmopolitan islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Paros, Ios, Kos, Kefallonia, Zakynthos and Hydra as well as the northern Halkidiki peninsula.

[edit] External links

• Official Greek Tourist Organisation site
• Sailing in Greece