ΒΑΣ. ΚΙΚΙΛΙΑΣ
- 30 Apr 2023
- economy
"The January advance bookings for this year's tourist season are 20% higher compared to the corresponding ones in 2019", said the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, in an interview he granted to the Mega TV station, noting that even in the last quarter the travel revenues they supported the citizens and the average Greek family, proving that tourism constitutes the popular economy of the country.
As Mr. Kikilias pointed out, a total of 1.44 million passengers were handled at "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport in January, and a 5% increase was recorded in passengers from abroad compared to 2019.
He made special reference to the impressive recovery of the cruise and the even better performances expected in 2023. Apart from Thessaloniki - where the cruise was 10 times higher compared to 2019 and for 2023 at least 70 arrivals are already planned by 13 companies and 21 different cruise ships - the Minister of Tourism pointed out that 807 cruise ships are expected in the port of Piraeus this year, which means a 19% increase compared to 2022, a year that surpassed the performance of the pre-pandemic period.
Finally, to a question from the journalists about the electoral contest in the first Athens, where he will be a candidate, Mr. Kikilias replied: "I am always on the front line, the battle is tough, but the battle for the big stake, which is the the well-being of the Greeks and for the country to move forward is more important".
