Greek Tourism: Positive signs for 2017 with scheduled airline seats rising by 19%

Demand for next year’s tourism season in Greece is showing an increase since the first indications of airline seat capacity for 2017 are optimistic, while early bookings from many traditionally strong markets are also on the up.

The question of security remains the main criterion for European tourists choosing summer holiday resorts and, therefore, Spain, Portugal and Greece are already taking a lead in early bookings and tour operator rush to increase the capacity of airline seats and hotel beds in these destinations.

Regarding Greece, major tour operators like TUI and Thomas Cook, have announced increases of beds and seats while the first data of flight programming released by the Greek Flight Coordination Authority (EASP) to SETE Intelligence for summer 2017 (from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October), record an increase of 19% or 3.6 million more expected airline travelers to regional airports compared to last year.

The figures do not include the AIA data, but this are also expected to show increased airline seats.

Even though these estimates reflect the initial planning of November 2016 and are subject to review by the end of January 2017, the final figure is not expected to show significant differences - provided of course that the currently prevailing stability and calm atmosphere in Greece are not affected.

Οι 15 μεγαλύτερες αγορές μας καλύπτουν περισσότερο από το 90% των προγραμματισμένων θέσεων με τις 5 πρώτες (Γερμανία, Βρετανία, Ιταλία, Ρωσία και Γαλλία) να καλύπτουν σχεδόν το 60%. Μάλιστα οι δυο πλέον παραδοσιακές αγορές μας (Γερμανία και Βρετανία) εκτός από το ότι κατέχουν τις δυο πρώτες θέσεις προγραμματίζουν, η κάθε μια, υπερδιπλάσιο αριθμό θέσεων από τις επόμενες χώρες.

The country's 15 largest incoming markets comprise more than 90% of planned positions with the first 5 (Germany, UK, Italy, Russia and France) covering almost 60% of them. Indeed, the two traditionally leading markets (Germany and UK) program more than twice the number of seats from the other countries.

The data for the major incoming markets shows:

• Germany + 46% or 1.4 million more to 4.4 million total
• Austria + 84% or 403 thousand more to 885 thousand
• Switzerland + 26% or 127 thousand more to 609 thousand
• France + 48% or 412 thousand more to 1.3 million
• Denmark + 29% or 155 thousand more to 684 thousand
• Czech Republic + 28% or 145 thousand more to 664 thousand 
• Italy -3% or -73 thousand
• Norway -8%  or -39 thousand to 451 thousand

More specific  data for destinations show:

+ 55% in Mykonos or 263 thousand more to 743 thousand 

+ 36% in Santorini  or 224 thousand more to 841 thousand 

+ 32% in Zakynthos or 285 thousand more to 1,178 million

Kos is at the same level (+ 2%) with the corresponding programming last year while the great drop for Lemnos and Mytilene continues (-52% and -37% respectively).

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report