On whether developments in the Middle East are going to affect Greek tourism, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, among others, spoke.
The Prime Minister was at the General Assembly of SETE, where he discussed with ERT journalist Apostolos Mangiriadis about tourism, the dynamics it has developed, but also the adaptability that this sector must have “to any unpleasant surprise that arises”.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis began his remarks by also speaking warmly about SETE’s first female president Agapi Sbokou.
Mitsotakis: I expect we will see an explosion of last minute booking
We expect to see a boom in last-minute bookings.
“I estimate that we will see an explosion of last minute booking,” the prime minister said at first, noting that there is currently a “hold”, while noting that the first two months have been excellent for the country. “I don’t see any systemic crisis,” he stressed.
Mitsotakis said the country had already been tested in much more difficult conditions, recalling the management of the pandemic. “With the cooperation of the state and SETE, we proved that we can overcome very great adversities,” he said, attributing the foundations of the current dynamics of Greek tourism to the decisions taken at the time.
He placed particular emphasis on the resilience and flexibility of the sector, noting that “it is not easy to go from record to record every year”. He said that in a period of international uncertainty, the issue is not only about the total number of arrivals, but also about Greece’s position in relation to the competition.
“If the pie gets smaller, we should be the country that will be least affected,” he said, stressing that developments and changes in the wider region may create new opportunities for Greek tourism.
At the same time, the prime minister presented the government’s plan for the sustainable development of tourism, stressing the need for a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability. He also announced the completion of the special spatial framework for tourism, while acknowledging that there are destinations where “we need to put the brakes on” and others where “we need to step on the gas”.
He also stressed the importance of infrastructure, citing as a typical example the E65 road axis, which, he noted, creates new prospects for untapped tourist areas of the country.
Completing his statement, Mitsotakis reiterated that the government will continue to support both the extension of the tourist season and social tourism programmes, noting that growth cannot be achieved at the expense of the sustainability of destinations. “We cannot, for the sake of a short-term benefit, saw off the branch on which we are sitting,” he said.
In addition, Mitsotakis asked SETE to cooperate with the State for a comprehensive strategy for AI in tourism, while he concluded by noting that “it is not enough to rest on our laurels but to continue to work very hard”.
