![Greek Tourism: The Russian tourist market is lost – Critical week for bookings overall](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/touristes.jpg)
It will take years for Russian tourists to come to Greece again, while the week we are going through is also very critical for the course of bookings from the markets of the rest of Europe. Greece expected to receive more than 250,000 Russian tourists this year, and up to 350,000 if the issues with charter flights were resolved, but due to the war, everything has been turned upside down.
Read also: War in Ukraine: War in Ukraine: How much Greek tourism will be affected
The assessment of factors of the Greek-Russian tourism business is that the closed air borders as well as the sanctions will last very long, regardless of when the ceasefire will take place in Ukraine, with the result that the Russian tourist will disappear from our country for years.
However, the gap, due to their small number, although they spend proportionally more than other tourists, can be filled by other “sources” provided of course that the crisis will not go on for a long time.
Greek tourism entrepreneurs are holding their breath and hope that military operations will end this week, a week that is characterized as very critical for the future of tourism.
What everyone is saying is that so far the bookings from Western Europe and the USA have not been affected, but something they fear will happen later if the fighting continues in Ukraine.
The continuation of the conflict and the large increase in energy costs, as the president of the Heraklion Hoteliers Association, Mr. Nikos Chalkiadakis, has already reported to ot.gr, will make the decision of the northern Europeans for holidays more difficult.
For his part, Mr. Fotis Kokkotos, member of the Board of Directors of Elounda SA Hotels and Resorts, emphasizes that first of all, what we all wish is for peace to prevail, and for the war to end. Then we can talk about tourism. In any case and under the condition that the hostilities will end soon, the country has proved in the two years of the pandemic that it can successfully meet the challenges.
Russian tourists
As for the Russians, Greece, as mentioned above, seems to be losing up to 350,000 tourists, this year, while another 100,000 Ukrainians will also be absent.
In 2019, according to the official data of the Border Survey of the Bank of Greece, 583 thousand Russian tourists had traveled to Greece, spending 433 million euros, when the total tourist arrivals in our country were 31.3 million.
The record year in terms of arrivals from Russia was in 2013 when it reached 1.3 million tourists.
In 2020, the number of Russian travelers in Greece, based on the BoG, reached 26 thousand, while in 2021 the tourist traffic from Russia increased by 365.3% compared to the previous year and amounted to 119.5 thousand travelers (s.s .: estimates by industry say about 170 thousand).
In 2020, the Russians spent 14 million euros, according to BoG figures, while in 2021 they spent about 115 million euros.
According to Dimitris Haritidis, CEO of TEZ Group Greece, Russian tourists will turn to Turkey this year if Turkey does not close its airspace to Russian planes but also to Egypt, Dubai, and of course China, which before two days opened the border for the Russians.
However, Mr. Haritidis notes that their company will try to cover part of the losses from Russia and Ukrainians to Greece by increasing programs from the Baltic countries, although we are talking about a much smaller number of tourists.
![ot.gr](/wp-content/themes/whsk_otgr/common/imgs/fav.ico/favicon-32x32.png)
![ot.gr](/wp-content/themes/whsk_otgr/common/imgs/fav.ico/favicon-32x32.png)
Latest News
![Cosco: Container Traffic Decline at Piraeus Port Continues](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/olp1-scaled-1-2048x1312-1-600x384.jpg)
Cosco: Container Traffic Decline at Piraeus Port Continues
This strategic shift has diminished Piraeus's standing as a prominent Mediterranean port and a key transshipment hub post-Suez Canal.
![Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/power-lines-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg)
Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates
According to reports, the government will resume an electricity subsidization program, given that forecasts cite disruptions – i.e. higher rates
![ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ot_georg_PROIONTA_money-1-600x352.png)
ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock
The 6.3% rise in May 2024 is largely driven by an 8.8% increase in the crop output group, particularly due to changes in olive oil prices, and a 0.5% increase in the animal output group.
![Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/blackout-1-600x457.png)
Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids
The surge in electricity demand during the heat wave and the power deficit in Balkan markets have driven up prices in the Greek wholesale electricity market.
![Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ploio-600x400.jpg)
Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists
Greece was selected by 5.9% of respondents who were asked where they would vacation this year, up from 5.4% in the same survey last year
![Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/euros-2048x1365-1-600x400.jpg)
Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive
The international ratings firm raised Greece to investment grade in early August 2023
![First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/hellenic-seaplanes-pilotikes-ptiseis-ydatino-pedio-lavriou-600x450.jpeg)
First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros
After decades of on-again, off-again efforts to schedule regular seaplane routes to Greece's numerous island and coastal destinations the prospect now appears within sight
![ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/unnamed-41.jpg)
ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y
The same price index had decreased 20.8% from May 2022 to May 2023
![Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ergasia-ergazomenos-600x300.jpg)
Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated
Specifically, the option "Subjective opinions are prioritized over objective data" ranked highest in importance for young employees, with a score of 3.89 out of 4
![OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ergasiabusinness-768x556-1-1-600x434.jpeg)
OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece
By the fourth quarter of 2023, job vacancies per unemployed person had risen by more than 4, with the index reaching 446 units compared to 100 units in late 2019