It has been widely reported that 2017 will see huge number of tourists making their way to Greece and now the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) has announced they expect a record-breaking 30 million international visitors to make their way over this year.
This would see a growth rate of 7 percent, meaning 2 million more visitors than 2016. According to the GNTO’s New York branch, close to 900,000 American travellers are expected to visit Greece this year.
For the last two years, Greece’s growth has been nearly twice the global industry average of 3.9 percent, as reported by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in January 2017.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that tourism in 2017 will help boost the Greek economy by 6.9 percent, and will boost employment by 6.3 percent, supporting nearly 1 million jobs and representing 20 percent of the country’s GDP.
According to data, one in five jobs created in Greece is related to the tourism sector. “Tourism is essential to Greece’s effort for recovery and prosperity. Every 30 or more tourists visiting Greece, creates one new job for a Greek,” the GNTO said in an announcement.
“We are very optimistic about the upcoming tourist season and our continued momentum,” says Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura. “Greece’s incomparable natural beauty, ancient history, vibrant urban culture and spirit of ‘philotimo’ make it one of the world’s most unique and desired year-round destinations.”
Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General, shared his full support of Greece and GNTO when he visited Athens earlier this year, stating “Greece is one of the most popular and attractive global destinations, which enhances its international appeal and continues to record high performance.”
