wtm london europe review
Greece hails 2018 ‘best-ever year’ G
reece is set to report its most successful year for tourism in 2018 following a tumultuous
2016 and recovery in 2017. Konstantinos Tsegas, Greek National
Tourist ffice secretary general, said 2018 was already “the best year in the history of Greek tourism”. “From January to July we witnessed an increase in international arrivals of almost 15% and 17%,” he said. The increase means an extra 2.1
million extra overseas visitors this year, which Tsegas attributed to the extended summer season, strengthening of regional airports and improved flight connections. Airlift from the UK is especially
strong, with new routes including Liverpool and Southend to Corfu from Ryanair, as well as Luton-Athens and Manchester-Thessaloniki. Greece is one of Europe’s most mountainous countries and has 19 ski resorts, most of them close to the two cities. Tourism officials hope
to persuade visitors to tag on a day’s skiing to their city break. For 2019, there will also be a focus on investment to create more tourism infrastructure. “We aim to establish a more competitive framework to attract strategic investments,” said Tsegas. He said this meant “integrated” resorts, large and medium-sized marinas, cruise ports, new investments in medical and thermal tourism and theme parks. We also plan specific zones across the country for developing thematic tourist products for health and wellness, Mice, golf and culture,” he said.
New routes to Corfu have contributed to record tourist numbers
Tourism tax investments revealed
T
he Balearic Islands have made “major investments” to reduce tourism’s
Cyprus commits to €1b plan C
yprus is heading for a record year after seeing a near 8% increase in arrivals
so far in 2018. The island, which still has to register
figures from two of its peak months, saw 3.24 million arrivals in the January-September period, an increase of 7.9% and a record in itself. In the first nine months of the year, upswings in the numbers of tourists from Ukraine and Poland – both showing 50%-plus increases – and witzerland 29, offset a .9 drop in Russians visiting, down from 703,000 to 669,000.
UK arrivals however showed a
strong 5.3% increase during the period. The UK remains the main source of tourists to Cyprus with 1.09 million visitors. So far this year, they comprise 33.8% of the total, followed by Russia with 20.6%, Israel (6.2%) and Germany with 4.4%. Cyprus is planning one of the largest infrastructure projects in its history with the €1 billion Larnaca Port and Marina project. Tender documents
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were sent to potential developers in September.
Dinos Lefkaritis, Larnaca Tourism
Board chairman, said: “Larnaca is entering an era where its full potential will be realised. New city and boutique hotels as well as agro-tourist establishments are opening up, and more are about to operate in the next couple of years.” Another key tourism project was the sinking of the 63-metre vessel Elpida off the coast of oroklini earlier this year to create an artificial dive reef. A smaller 16-metre ship was also sunk to entice snorkellers.
The new attraction will add to the island’s appeal to divers, as the wreck of Zenobia, which sank in 1980 carrying more than 100 articulated lorries, is regularly rated one of the world’s top 10 dive sites. Key hotel developments in 2019 include the opening of a Radisson Blu Conference and Airport hotel at Larnaca International airport, and the Solaar Boutique and Spa Hotel formerly Michael’s Beach in oroklini.
negative impact with the €204 million raised since introducing a sustainable tourism tax in 2016. In the first year the tax was levied, €30 million was channelled into 46 projects throughout Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, Balearics tourism board director Jaume Alzamora said at WTM London. Last year, another 62 initiatives were funded. “This has enabled the Balearic Islands government to make major investments to reduce the negative impact of tourism and to work towards creating a long-term and sustainable tourism destination,” he said. The tax doubled on May 1 this year to up to €4 for the highest-star accommodation. Rates apply to the six months of the main season and are chargeable per person per night. There is a 50% reduction after eight nights and children aged 16 and under are exempt. Alzamora also explained the tourist board’s ambition was to extend the season to spread visitors as part of a “more long- term sustainable tourism policy”. A new project entitled ‘Mallorca
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Inspires’ aims to bring the value of the island’s cultural heritage to the forefront. It will be promoted in core markets with a photographic exhibition by filmmaker and photographer Pep Bonet, plus gastronomic events, local produce demos and live music.
Majorca is the subject of a new heritage project
winter 2018 wtm insights 21
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