“We are building strategic alliances and not leaving a single day unused”
Interview with the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias, to Antonis Kirikos
Optimistic but realistic and above all a team player.
The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias in an interview full of Greece in grtraveller.
Minister, there is optimism that in 2022 we will set a record in arrivals and receipts. Do you share it?
Indeed, the signals so far are very strong for our tourism product. But, as I like to say, we remain realistically optimistic, as we will “cash in” at the end of 2022. The battle we are fighting is continuous and very targeted, in order to have quality services, more arrivals everywhere, for a longer period of time and with higher average expenditure. The first results are indeed visible and in a year of multiple crises, after more than two years of pandemic, with a war in the heart of Europe and with significant increases in the prices of basic goods due to the energy crisis. Our country is making a strong comeback, through hard, persistent work and proper preparation. Greece is currently the number 5 tourism brand worldwide. By the end of the season, we expect more than 500,000 American tourists, with direct flights from the US, not counting transit flights. In fact, tickets for direct flights from America to El. Venizelos” are sold out almost until the end of August. In April alone, more than 100,000 travellers visited our country from Israel.
“I have chosen team play. Because I like the team feeling,
the sense of teamwork and collective effort.”
Greece is the number one destination in road tourism for Romanians, while it is at the top of the preferences of the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Britain, France, Germany, Germany, Serbia and Scandinavia.
At the same time, there is also a significant increase in the seats of the largest airlines, which are constantly adding new destinations. These figures, however, do not allow us to be complacent. We continue to build strategic alliances to promote our tourism product and we do not leave a single day unused.
Sustainable tourist destinations and lengthening the tourist season. Are they the big bets of the Ministry of Tourism?
Both the extension of the tourist season and the strengthening of a sustainable tourism model in terms of balanced and sustainable development in all the regions of the country were among the primary objectives that I personally set since the Prime Minister entrusted me with the important portfolio of tourism. This is because our tourism product is the main source of income for the average Greek family, the average Greek business. It is – as I like to say – the popular economy of Greece that “produces” 25% of the country’s GDP and involves hundreds of thousands of Greek workers who are employed in sectors that are directly or indirectly related to tourism: from the primary sector, the hotel and accommodation sector, to health care establishments, the average commercial enterprise and the construction sector. Our aim was, therefore, to highlight as many destinations across the country as possible, especially the less prominent ones. This is because everyone is entitled to a dividend from the success of tourism. It is with great pleasure that I see our efforts bearing fruit today. New destinations – such as Epirus, central and western Macedonia, but also islands such as Halki, Symi and Astypalaia – have dynamically entered the map twelve months a year, major foreign “players” are investing in our country, while in the first quarter of 2022 alone, receipts from our tourism product increased by 342%, compared to last year. All this means more revenue for the country, but also hot money that ends up in the pockets of Greek citizens.
The development of theIs the development of thematic tourism high on your priorities?
The promotion of thematic tourism continues to be our strategic target, as it is directly linked to the extension of the tourist season and the strengthening of less popular destinations in our country, which we have talked about extensively before. In answer to your question, I would like to mention the very important investment of the Swedish Apollo and the German Der Turistik in sports tourism with a hotel in Lemnos, where athletes of the Swedish Olympic Federation will train in spring and autumn. And speaking of sports tourism, suffice it to say that for the Acropolis Rally in the autumn, the organizers are looking for 4,000 rooms in Fthiotida, in order to meet the needs of the teams. But the performance in cruise also justifies the strategy we have followed all the previous months, with arrivals at Piraeus currently showing an increase of 130% and at the port of Thessaloniki 250%. I think we all understand very easily what these figures mean for the strengthening of the local economy, the professionals and producers of each region. And we are still at the beginning.
Is Greece an attractive destination for tourism investment?
In the almost three years since the great electoral victory of New Democracy, the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has restored the confidence of markets, investors and partners and has undertaken all the necessary reforms that have made Greece a welcoming country for investors. Today, all the big multinationals in tourism are in our country, building – or renovating – hotels and accommodation of high quality, investing in unprominent tourist destinations. I mentioned earlier the large investment for the new sports hotel in Lemnos, which from the first day of operation showed 100% occupancy. A similar investment by Apollo and Der Turistik has also been made in Sivota, the Israeli Brown has announced and is already implementing an investment plan with 50 hotels across the country – and even in less popular destinations – while there is strong interest in the tourism sector from Saudi investors. All of this, of course, translates into new, quality jobs for Greek citizens, generates more than double the revenue to the state coffers and upgrades the developmental footprint in every corner of our country.
What characteristics from the sporting era do you “enlist” to withstand the pressure of politics?
Many people say that politics is a lonely “sport”. Personally, I don’t agree with that. I have chosen team play. Because I like the sense of team, the sense of teamwork and collective effort. Sport taught me not to give up. He taught me to get up when I fall. It taught me that nothing is given to you in life, except with perseverance, hard work, discipline, organization and proper preparation. It helped me to listen and taught me the importance of rallying around a common cause. This is the attitude that I have followed to this day. And which I will continue to follow.
What is your favourite habit that relaxes you after a long day?
I wouldn’t call it a habit. My refuge is my family. My wife and my son. Politics is very, very important. And it’s true that I spend most of my day on it. However, my wife and child are the two people who relieve me and are my support in every difficult moment. True happiness, after all, I believe, is only through this path. The balance between our personal and professional lives.
What are your two favourite destinations in Greece and abroad?
I will single out Greece. But without being able to choose a destination. For sure, I remember my summer holidays as a child in Syros. For sure, I love the Laconian Mani, my father’s homeland. Greece is a truly magical place to live, with rich beauty and unique people. And it is this special feeling that we wanted to illuminate with our new summer tourism campaign. The unique experience that our country offers to the visitor, in every dimension. That experience that captivates each of our five senses and that makes the traveller visiting our country want to stay here… forever.
