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Explore the South Crete..

 

50% Mediterranean tourists pick Crete

Nearly one in two tourists choosing the Mediterranean Sea for their holidays are likely to pick Crete for their destination, according to data presented during an event co-ogranised by the regional tourism unit of Crete and the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) held on the island. 

According to the findings, 47% said they showed a preference to visiting Crete in the next two years, placing it second only to the Balearic islands (49%). Tuscany (43%), Sicily (40%), Provence, Cote d’Azur, Sardinia and Corsica followed with 36%. 

The event revealed that Crete constituted Greece’s tourism steam engine, as it absorbed 20% of all tourist arrivals and 2015 receiving 3.5 million people from all over the world, a 40% increase in the past 4 years. 

The top markets for the island are Germany, the UK, Russia, France and Norway. One of the problems facing the industry on the island is the fact that the bulk (77%) of arrivals come over a span of only 4 months, limiting the season to the summer months.

Meanwhile, according to results of an MRB Hellas study on 607 likely visitors Crete’s brand name awareness is first, as most of those polled said they knew the island more than Sicily or the Balearic islands. 90% of the respondents said they chose Crete for its natural beauty and history, with 78% saying they picked to for its tourism infrastructure.

(source:protothema)

Photo of the day..

Plakias is 35 kilometres south of Rethymno, on the southern coast of Crete on the Libyan Sea and is a popular tourist resort well-known for its award-winning Blue Flag sandy beach stretching for 1400 metres.

Plakias Suites Beach is situated to the eastern part of the long beach of Plakias!

The beach is sandy and very well organized with cool green waters!!

http://www.plakiassuites.com/

3 Greek islands in Europe’s top 10 by TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor has rated the top 10 islands in Europe, according to its 2016 Travellers’ Choice Awards, and its list includes three Greek islands: Crete is 4th.. 

See here: TripAdvisor

Greece is the second most popular choice for German tourists for 2016

According to a survey conducted by German tour operator giants ‘Tui’, Greece is the second most popular choice for German tourists for 2016, with Spain taking top spot as the choice of 35% Germans. 

The survey was done in the area of the most densely populated state of North Rhine-Wesfalia. 

Turkey, Germany and Italy are the next most popular choices. 

The US (6th), Portugal (7th), Austria (8th), Bulgaria (9th) and Croatia (10th) make up the top 10 spots. 

According to the findings, TU travelers will holiday for 9.6 days this summer compared to 10.4 last year. 

Ad TUI estimates the trend to cut down on holidays could lead to second of third holidays later in the year.  

Last-Minute Bookings to Make or Break 2016 Tourism for Greece

Tourist bookings to Greece are moving at a slower than ever pace, according to figures released by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) this week which found that the number has dropped by 59,000 in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2015.

While incoming air traffic to Greece for the January-June period marked a 4.9 percent increase, up by 278,000 arrivals, inbound road traffic dropped by 7.4 percent at a loss of about 337,000 arrivals compared to the same period in 2015.

Topping the list of main destinations accessed via air thus far are Crete, up by 11.1 percent, the Ionian islands up by 9.7 percent and the Cyclades with a rise of 16 percent.

Athens recorded an increase of 4.2 percent in arrivals and Thessaloniki a 4 percent rise.

Meanwhile, islands primarily affected by the refugee influx have seen a major decline in the number of visitors: Kos recorded a drop of 17.9 percent, Samos by 39 percent and Lesvos by a massive 63.1 percent.

At the same time, road traffic from neighboring Bulgaria fell by 32 percent.

“The figures corroborate that the tourist season underway remains ‘fluid’ and  last minute,” SETE said in the accompanying statement, adding that this does not apply to all destinations in Greece, and underlining the significance of incentives instead of over-taxation for the further growth of the industry.

(source: gtp)