According to comprehensive reports from WorldWay, starting from the end of September, Greece gradually enters the off-peak travel season, while the Chinese "National Day" golden week brings a large number of tourists to Greece, injecting vitality into the local tourism industry.
Officials from the Greek Tourism Enterprises Association and the Greek National Tourism Organization stated that although it is not yet possible to accurately count the number of Chinese tourists visiting Greece during the golden week, the upward trend is very evident.
Statistics from the Hellenic Statistical Authority show that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Greece in 2013 was 28,328, an increase of 132.1% compared to the previous year. However, according to estimates from the Greek Tourism Enterprises Association, since many Chinese tourists visiting Greece first stop in other European countries, the actual number may be more than three times this figure.
The general manager of an international travel agency reported that according to their company's statistics, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Greece during this year's National Day increased by 30% to 40% compared to the same period last year.
Greece is gradually warming up in the hearts of Chinese tourists for several reasons: first, the further development of relations between the two countries has sparked interest among Chinese tourists to visit Greece; second, Greece, as an ancient civilization, possesses a strong allure; third, many Chinese tourists have already visited other European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, making Greece a fresh destination for them.
During the National Day holiday, about 80% of the tourists on Santorini Island were Chinese. In the eyes of Greek tourism operators, Chinese tourists not only visit historical sites but also spend generously while shopping. A salesperson at a high-end jewelry store in downtown Athens stated that approximately 15% of the store's sales come from Chinese tourists.
Compared to countries like France, some high-end brands are slightly cheaper in Greece, and coupled with the tax refund policy, shopping in Greece is very attractive. Recently, China UnionPay has launched services in Greece, further facilitating shopping for Chinese tourists.
With the increase in Chinese tourists, Greek tourism operators have added Chinese signage in hotels, restaurants, and shops in some popular destinations, and have hired Chinese-speaking tour guides.
Tourism operators estimate that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Greece this year will increase by more than 40% compared to last year. They believe that the main factors currently limiting the number of Chinese tourists to Greece are twofold: first, flights are not convenient enough, and second, the visa waiting time is still relatively long. If these two issues can be resolved, the increase in the number of Chinese tourists will be even greater.
Edited by WorldWay
