Significantly increased compared to last year is expected to be the travel traffic during this year’s Easter period, with auxiliary factors the favorable calendar of the combination with May Day that allows for more days of recreation, high temperatures and stable prices compared to last year. So far, bookings of organised holidays in Greek tourist agencies show a strong increase of 20% compared to the corresponding Easter period last year, while in general, prices are at last year’s levels and, in some cases, even lower than last year.
As far as domestic destinations are concerned, the North Aegean islands, with Chios, Leros and Mytilene in first place, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, with Tinos, Syros, Paros, Naxos, Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes, Patmos, Kos and Leros, leading the way, as well as the Sporades and Crete as a whole. The Ionian Sea is again leading the preferences of Greek travellers this year with high demand for Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Paxos and Ithaki due to the traditional Easter customs. Pelion, Zagorochoria and Ioannina attract travellers who prefer the hinterland, while Halkidiki attracts those seeking a combination with the sea. The Peloponnese is highly visited, especially Monemvasia, Stoupa, Kardamyli, and Kalamata, as well as Xylokastro and Nafplio.
In addition, Greek travellers will also head to all the coastal areas with hotels that opened after the Catholic Easter. Greeks who prefer to travel abroad, primarily prefer destinations in Central Europe, mainly Italy, Spain, Portugal and France, while closer destinations such as the coast of Turkey and Istanbul also give large numbers, as destinations around the Patriarchate are chosen due to Easter. Distant exotic destinations such as Southeast Asia, as well as Egypt, Dubai and Morocco, and Latin America, follow in preference.
The President of the FedHATTA Federation, Mr. Lysander Tsilides, said: “The prices for all tourist packages, both domestic and international, have been formulated by the travel agencies in such a way that they serve the whole range of travellers, making it possible for everyone to have an Easter escape but also with responsibility as provided by the European Directive on Package Travel. Travel agencies have set up short and long-distance, multi-day, two-day and three-day trips to appeal to all consumers.
