A high double-digit increase in early bookings for Greece in 2025 in the UK market, compared to the same period last year, is progressing at a high double-digit rate.
MONEY & TOURISM, in view of today’s opening of this year’s WTM, spoke with major “players” of the market, both Greek and British, who declare themselves “particularly satisfied” with the development of bookings in the British market for Greece, especially in the current context, with the economic crisis being a daily occurrence, wars in Europe and around it being ongoing and instability in general.
In more detail, the increase in bookings for Greece in the British market exceeds 15%, and for some tour operators, this increase “touches” 20%.
Regarding the trends, market players stress that:
-the major markets of Greece, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu, have the highest rates of increase in bookings, compared to other destinations
-luxury holidays, 4 and 5 star hotels and privileged accommodation (suites, private pool, etc.) are also at the top of the list of preferences of English tourists.
-and of course all inclusive, is the ” leader ” in terms of bookings.
As a well-known hotelier with a presence in many Greek destinations in high class hotels told Μ&T, “the big destinations are becoming bigger and leading, the rest of the known destinations follow, and the rest just exist”…
This year’s WTM, which is the largest ever and Greece is a strategic partner and sponsor, will be attended by Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni and EOT Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos, as well as the largest number of tourism businessmen.
The development of bookings from the English market is of critical importance for 2025, as the German market is also very concerned about the new charges imposed by the Greek government.
Revenues and arrivals of English tourists
In August 2024, receipts from the UK, stood at €647.3 million, a 14% decrease compared to August last year, while in the period January-August 2024, travel receipts from the UK showed a 2.8% increase to €2,375.6 million.
Inbound travel
Inbound travel in August 2024 was 6,908.0 thousand travellers, up 6.6% compared to the same month in 2023. In particular, travel through airports increased by 8.8% compared to August 2023 and that through road border stations by 3.0%. The increase in inbound travel traffic was driven by an increase in travel traffic from both EU-27 countries by 8.1% and from other countries by 4.1%.
More specifically, travel from the euro area countries amounted to 2,838.6 thousand travellers, up by 12.7%, while travel from the EU-27 countries outside the euro area increased by 0.7%, amounting to 1,600.5 thousand travellers. In particular, travel from Germany increased by 31.3% to 1,008.5 thousand travellers, while travel from France increased by 14.1% to 454.0 thousand travellers. Travel from Italy also increased by 6.0%, reaching 553.2 thousand travellers. As regards other countries, travel from the United Kingdom decreased by 5.3% to 870.8 thousand travellers, while travel from the United States increased by 13.7% to 227.7 thousand travellers. Finally, there was no travel from Russia.
In the period January-August 2024, inbound travel recorded an increase of 9.9% to 24,890.6 thousand travellers, compared to 22,649.1 thousand travellers in the corresponding period of 2023. In particular, travel through airports increased by 11.1% and that through road border stations by 7.7%. In the period under review, travel from the EU-27 countries amounted to 15,255.5 thousand travellers, an increase of 10.3% compared to the same period in 2023, while travel from other countries increased by 9.2% to 9,635.1 thousand travellers.
Travel from euro area countries increased by 13.4% and travel from EU-27 countries outside the euro area by 4.8%. In particular, travel from Germany increased by 17.7% to 3,613.1 thousand travellers, while travel from France increased by 7.7% to 1,518.5 thousand travellers. Travel from Italy also increased by 10.9%, reaching 1,543.9 thousand travellers. In terms of other countries, travel from the United Kingdom increased by 4.0% to 3,136.9 thousand travellers, while travel from the United States increased by 8.4% to 1,016.3 thousand travellers. Finally, travel from Russia decreased by 64.9% to 9.0 thousand travellers.
WTM
London’s World Travel Market is Europe’s second most important tourism exhibition for the travel and tourism industry and is expected to contribute around £200 million to London’s economy in just one week. Taking place at Excel London (5-7 November), over 40,000 travel industry professionals are set to attend the 44th edition.
WTM London, which will host the most exhibitors the show has ever seen, has announced a 7% increase in the number of exhibitors this year, with over 4,000 global tourism organisations, hoteliers, transport services, technology brands, associations and experiences coming to the halls of Excel London for three days of business. It is estimated that over £2.2 billion worth of business deals will be signed at the event this year.
According to VisitBritain figures, international delegates visiting the UK for a trade show spend an average of £352 per day, which estimates the total visitor spend at £71,215,218. In a recent report by Deloitte, they suggested that for every £1,000 spent, an additional £1,800 in direct gross tourism value is generated, in total an impressive £200 million injection from WTM London into the economy.
