Mediterranean Tourism Set for New Record in 2024

Tourism in the Mediterranean is poised for a significant surge in 2024, as reported by the economic magazine Handelsblatt and corroborated by data from major online booking platforms.

Figures reveal a notable uptick in bookings across key destinations, with Spain seeing a 7% increase, Italy up by 9%, and Greece experiencing a 4.5% rise compared to the previous year. Notably, Greece is also bracing for a 10% hike in hotel prices throughout the year, as disclosed by insiders within the tourism sector.

Adding to the momentum are the highly anticipated sporting events, – the European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris- anticipated to drive up travel costs for visitors traveling to these two destinations.

What is more, Greece is gearing up for price hikes, after the government decided to introduce a new levy termed ‘contribution for resilience to climate change.’ This measure, stemming from the aftermath of last summer’s catastrophic forest fires, aims to channel approximately 300 million euros annually toward disaster prevention efforts.

However, amidst these developments, there are contradictory views regarding how climate change will reshape the tourism landscape. While some experts foresee an elongated tourist season spilling over into the autumn and spring months, others raise concerns about the feasibility of family vacations during these periods, given the inevitable return of children to school.