Greek 2010 tourism revenues to fall, group says

Greece will see more tourists this year but revenues from this major sector of its ailing economy will continue to fall, a tourism research body said on Monday.

About one in five Greeks works in tourism which accounts for about 20 percent of Greece's 250-billion-euro ($351 billion) economy, making it critical for Greece's efforts to cope with its first recession in 16 years.

"Greek tourist arrivals will slightly rebound in 2010 (about 2-3 percent)," ITEP said in a statement.

"But it is certain, that tourism revenues will continue the negative trend, which started in 2008."

Greek tourist arrivals dropped 7.8 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2009, according to ITEP, which estimated annual figures slightly worse.

Athens and the popular islands of Myconos and Santorini were among the worst-hit destinations.

Tourism revenues fell 11.7 percent year on year from January to September, with hotels most hurt by the economic crisis.

Greece, one of Europe's top tourist destinations receives about 15 million visitors every year.

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is predicting global tourism growth of between 3 and 4 percent in 2010, after a fourth-quarter recovery of the sector in 2009, but expects Europe to be the slowest to rebound.