Crete is a Unique Tourism Destination for Germans, Says Ambassador

 Crete is a favorite Greek destination for German travelers, according to German Ambassador to Greece Andreas Kindl.

In a recent meeting on Crete with the island’s regional governor, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Kindl expressed his admiration for Greece and discussed further promoting Crete as a holiday destination to Germans.

He specifically referred to last year’s arrivals of German travelers to Crete which showed their high preference for the island.

“Over 1 million German travelers visited Crete in 2023,” the German ambassador said, adding that many retirees from his country have chosen Crete as their permanent residence.

According to Kindl, the main reasons behind that choice are the island’s landscape, Cretan products, gastronomy, and excellent weather conditions.

Also present at the meeting was the new Honorary Consul of Germany in Heraklion, Dr. Georgios Kaloutsakis, who highlighted that many younger Germans are interested in moving to Crete to live and work.

On his part, Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis referred to the new projects taking place on the island.

“Major projects are currently underway on the island, such as the new airport and the motorway BOAK, which will significantly upgrade the tourism infrastructure and services for the ever-increasing number of visitors to the island,” Arnaoutakis said.

The regional governor closed the meeting, referring to the good cooperation and “long-standing friendly and business relations that have been established between Crete and Germany”.

gtp

TripAdvisor: Greek Beaches on Best Lists of World, Europe for 2024

Four beaches in Greece are among the “Best of the Best” Beaches of the World and Europe, according to TripAdvisor‘s Travelers’ Choice Awards, while two are also included on the list of Best Sustainable Beaches.

The annual awards honor destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants, and things to do around the world based on the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews on the TripAdvisor travel platform.

“Last year, Tripadvisor got millions of reviews for beaches—it’s clear that our community absolutely loves them. But as our Travelers’ Choice lists reveal, there’s no one-size-fits-all ‘beach day’,” said Sarah Firshein, Head of Editorial at Tripadvisor.

‘Best of the Best’ Greek beaches

For the second year running, Falassarna on the eastern side of Crete is the World’s 19th Best Beach and Europe’s 6th Best, with reviewers praising its “pink sand, blue waters, stunning mountains, and incredible sunsets.”

Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia, ranked 23rd Best Beach in the World and 8th best in Europe, is described as “a scenic spot, perfect for a peaceful beach day,” since it rarely gets crowded. The beach also ranked as 8th Best Sustainable Beach in the world.

Additionally, on the European list of 25 beaches, Anthony Quinn Beach on Rhodes was in 12th place, and Matala Beach on Crete was in 14th place.

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Crafting Your Perfect Sunday

 Navigating the tranquil waters of Sunday serenity – 

A personalized guide to a restful and rejuvenating routine

Sunday, often heralded as the day of rest, provides a unique opportunity to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. By curating a thoughtful routine, you can transform this day into a haven of tranquility and self-care. Let’s explore the elements of the perfect Sunday routine, including the choice between a delightful breakfast or a leisurely brunch, that can set the tone for a week of balance and positivity.

Slow Start with a Nourishing Breakfast or Brunch: Begin your Sunday with a leisurely start, savoring a nutritious and delicious breakfast or brunch. Whether it’s a stack of pancakes, a bowl of fresh fruits, or your favorite brunch creation, allow the morning to unfold at a relaxed pace.

Embrace Mindfulness through Meditation: Allocate some time for mindfulness meditation to center your thoughts and cultivate a sense of inner calm. This practice can provide clarity and set a positive tone for the day ahead.

Nature Walk or Outdoor Activity: Take advantage of the day’s tranquility by immersing yourself in nature. Whether it’s a stroll in the park, a hike in the woods, or a bike ride, spending time outdoors can invigorate your senses and promote well-being.

Creative Pursuits and Hobbies: Dedicate a portion of your Sunday to activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s painting, writing, playing an instrument, or any other creative pursuit, engaging in hobbies nourishes your soul.

 Indulge in a Relaxing Afternoon Nap: Allow yourself the luxury of a rejuvenating nap during the afternoon. A short siesta can enhance mood, improve cognitive function, and leave you feeling refreshed for the rest of the day.

Pamper Yourself with Self-Care Rituals: Cap off your perfect Sunday with self-care rituals. Whether it’s a warm bath, skincare routine, or simply curling up with a good book, pampering yourself creates a serene ending to the day.

Early Bedtime for Quality Rest: Ensure a restful night’s sleep by embracing an early bedtime. Quality rest is the cornerstone of overall well-being and sets the stage for a productive and fulfilling week ahead.

Crafting the perfect Sunday routine is a personal journey, so feel free to tailor these suggestions to align with your preferences and aspirations. By incorporating these elements into your Sunday, you can cultivate a sense of balance, fulfilment, and anticipation for the days ahead.

protothema

Key Infrastructure Projects on Crete to Facilitate Tourism

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Staikouras is visiting Crete this week to inspect the progress of key infrastructure projects expected to facilitate tourism to the island in the coming years.

Budgeted at 3.5 billion euros, tourism projects under the Crete Development Plan 2030 include the completion of the north road axis and peripheral roadway networks, the upgrade of the island’s ports and marinas, water and sanitation works, and increasing connectivity via air and sea – all directly linked with tourism.

“We are on Crete today to examine the progress of flagship projects budgeted at over 3.5 billion euros,” said Staikouras after a meeting with local officials and stakeholders. “We are working systematically with a plan, collectively and coherently for the implementation of projects that Crete has needed for decades,” he added.

Projects underway and of major importance for the country’s largest island, include the completion of sections along its 200+ kilometer north road axis (known as BOAK), the creation of a new cruise terminal in Souda, Chania; the completion of the highly anticipated Kastelli Airport; and the continued operation of the current airport in Heraklion.

Budgeted at 13 million euros, the new terminal in Souda has been listed as a fast-track project and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, said Staikouras, adding that the aim is to ensure the smooth operation of all port activities and to facilitate home porting for cruise ships.

At the same time, to meet the growing tourist demand, the government will be allocating 500 million euros for the construction of the Kastelli Airport, set  to handle some 15 million passengers a year and create hundreds of jobs. So far 31 percent of the total project has been complete, said Staikouras, adding that it was a complex and landmark work.

Lastly, with regard to the current Nikos Kazantzakis airport in Heraklion, the minister said that construction firm Terna had agreed to carry out upgrade works. The airport handled more than 9 million passengers in 2023. It should be noted that according to a Tourix survey, Heraklion Airport was also among the worst airports in Greece last year, scoring the lowest overall score. The study found that it was considered too small for the passenger volumes it serves.

gtp

Let the natural light to wake up you and fill your day with joy.

Let the natural light to wake up you and fill your day with joy.

We are Eleni and George, owners of Plakias Suites, with 12 years of experience in the field of hospitality, we have found that Luxury is not only what we see, luxury is a state, it is an experience. It's all about attention to detail. 

It's everything from the feel, the smell, the food to the customer service.

Plakias Suites is the proof that luxury is judged in the small details, in the simple pleasures, in the fine amenities offered and in the excellent service. There is a soul in this accommodation, that's why we have paid attention to everything. 

We collaborated with the Greek company COCO-MAT  whose philosophy is based on the exclusive use of natural materials to create harmonious spaces, where each object has a specific use, but also contributes to the preservation of physical and mental peace of the user. COCO-MAT's Interior Design team has equipped each our residence with the necessary furniture, bedding and utility items, all made with natural materials such as cotton, silk, coconut fiber, natural rubber, herbs (eucalyptus, lavender), goose down, wool.

PLAKIASSUITES COCO-MAT Full Experience

Tripadvisor: Two Beaches on Crete Among 25 Best in the World for 2023

 

Two beaches located on the Greek island of Crete – Falassarna and the Balos Lagoon – have been included on the Travelers’ Choice 2023 Best of the Best Beaches Awards list released recently by Tripadvisor.

Every year, Tripadvisor awards travelers’ favorite destinations, beaches, hotels, restaurants, and things to do around the world, based on the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews on the platform.

For 2023, according to Tripadvisor, the Falassarna beach, located on the eastern side of Crete, is the World’s 21st Best Beach and Europe’s 6th best with reviewers hailing its crystal clear waters and pink sand.

Furthermore, Crete’s Balos Lagoon (northwest of the town of Chania) ranked 25th in the World’s Best Beaches list and 8th in Europe’s Best Beaches list with Tripadvisor’s users calling it a “landscape from another planet”.

TripAdvisor’s Europe’s Top 25 Beaches list also includes another two Greek beaches – the Sarakiniko beach on Milos in the 17th place and Kalamaki beach on Zakynthos in the 18th.

(read more gtp)

Study: Islands Give Greece Advantage in Tourism Over Rivals

 The Greek islands are giving Greece a head start over its main tourism rivals setting solid foundations for the tourist season ahead, said the National Bank of Greece (NBG) in its latest “Business Trends” study.

More specifically, NBG analysts expect Greece to make a strong comeback this year on the back of increasing tourist flows in 2022 and in view of strong pre-bookings and intent for travel.

Greek hotels saw autumn sales exceed pre-Covid 2019 levels by 24 percent driven in large part by overnight stays which recouped 97 percent of 2019 levels, enabling hotels to gain a larger market share with international customers accounting for 60 percent of all stays over 57 percent in 2019.

In the meantime, sales per night were up by 27 percent compared to 2019, reflecting the quality and variety of services offered.

According to NBG analysts, the improved services which in turn boosted profitability have set Greek hotels apart from those in rival destinations and led to an increase in their share of Mediterranean overnight stays by 1 percentage point (18.5 percent in autumn 2022 compared to 17.5 percent in autumn 2019).

At the same time, Greek hotels also saw their revenues per night increase more compared to their competitors while operating profitability in 2022 was stronger by 20-35 percent on average compared to 2019.

Other key takeaways of the NBG report include:

– the Greek islands managed to keep tourists comeing off season marking a 13 percent increase in sales in the autumn compared to 2019

– leading the way as autumn destinations were the South Aegean islands and Crete

– road arrivals took a toll on mainland destination figures which were down by 5 percent in constant prices compared to autumn 2019

– the number of arrivals from Germany, the UK, France, and the US were up by 11 percentage points, with the UK leading the way marking a 43 percent increase in arrivals compared to 2019

– Greece is a highly sought-after destination cited as the first choice for a next trip to Europe by 5.8 percent of Europeans this year (compared to 4.4 percent in 2022)

– early bookings are 70 percent higher so far this year compared to 2022

– scheduled air seats for the first weeks of March are 11 percent higher compared to last year proving that the tourist season has been extended beyond the traditional summer months

– also reflecting a longer tourist season, October 2022 managed to reach 60 percent of September arrivals compared to 54 percent in 2019.

Looking ahead, NBG analysts are expecting a robust year in tourism citing a strong intent for travel despite the cost-of-living crisis. They go on to add that consumer confidence in key source markets for Greece appears to be recovering supporting intent for travel from within the EU and abroad.

On the downside, the report refers to geopolitical tensions, soaring energy prices which may impact hotel operational costs and the shortage of staff.

(source:gtp)

Spinalonga Leprosy Center to Be Converted into Exhibition Space

As part of ongoing works to restore the islet of Spinalonga, located in the Elounda Gulf northeastern Crete, the Greek Culture Ministry announced recently that it would be moving ahead with repairs to the leprosy center, the hospital and the dormitories which will be converted into exhibition spaces.

Spinalonga island was a leper colony between 1903 and 1957. Greece has taken actions for its inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.

“The islet of Spinalonga, an important fortress complex from the period of the Venetian occupation but also a space marred by harsh memories from the period the islet functioned as a Leprosy Center, has been a priority for the ministry,” said Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

The minister referred to the restoration works and to designs aimed at showcasing the island’s buildings as well as actions taken to make it accessible to people with disabilities.

The main hospital building will be converted into a multiuse space for temporary exhibitions, conferences and events and will include a café and visitor service area. All buildings will be accessible to people with disabilities using ramps and elevators. Other projects include the upgrade of the ticket center and sales point. Once completed, the restored buildings will feature art shows and exhibitions focusing on the history of the island.

“The island is a symbol of human will and the struggle for a better future,” said Mendoni, underlining the importance of recreating the history of the buildings from the 16th century to the 20th century (1957) when the leprosy center closed and the stories of the people who lived and worked there.

(GTP)

Greek Tourism in 2022 ‘What a Success’, Hails ECTAA

Greek tourism has experienced a record – breaking year with almost 30 million visitors in 2022, according to a recent announcement by the European Travel Agents & Tour Operators Association (ECTAA).

ECTAA attributes the country’s success to its status as “a high-quality, safe and well-prepared destination”, attracting travelers to visit branded and alternative areas of interest during both summer and off-peak seasons.

The association, which represents some 70,000 travel agents and tour operators in Europe, actively promoted Greece as its preferred travel destination during 2022 thanks to a partnership agreement with the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).

The deal also saw the organization of two ECTAA conferences in Chania and Thessaloniki, as well as the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance’s (WTAAA) first in-person General Assembly held in Athens with delegates coming from all five continents.

During these meetings, ECTAA members praised the Greek government’s actions to expand sustainable tourism; the light shed on the diversity of travel and tourism products that the country offers, and the expansion of the tourism period supported by an ECTAA – led webinar titled “Greece has a winter too.”

“Greece’s success is not a surprise,” said ECTAA’s Secretary General Eric Drésin, adding that during this year, the country fully realized the global need to travel sustainably and all tourism – related stakeholders remained committed to provide the best possible services to their guests.

According to Greek government officials, industry experts and analysts, Greece is on track to yield record high revenues of 20 billion euros this year, exceeding pre – pandemic levels.

source gtp

Greece is Fast Becoming a Top Location for Digital Nomads

 The Greek Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers and online entrepreneurs to stay for up to two years

The Greek Digital Nomad Visa was created to encourage remote workers and online entrepreneurs to visit Greece more frequently and potentially stay for longer periods of time. 

The hope is that these professionals will bring their skills and expertise to the country, boosting the economy and enriching the local culture. According to a study by the MIT Enterprise Forum, attracting just 100,000 digital nomads to Greece for a period of six months could benefit the economy by approximately €1.6 billion.

This visa aims to take advantage of the growing trend of remote work, which has been facilitated by advances in communications technology and was further fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were unable to attend in-person workplaces.

Greece has traditionally been a popular tourist destination, but the country has not always been as welcoming to remote work. A study by the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) found that only 5% of the Greek workforce was working from home in 2019, which was well behind other EU countries at the time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in remote work, and the Greek government is now hoping to take advantage of this trend by making it easier for digital nomads to obtain visas and work from anywhere in the country.

source: proto thema , travel.gr