GREECE: Tourism to reach new record this year

October’s statistical data have forced the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) to once again revise this year's predictions regarding tourist arrivals, according to the GreekReporter website.
SETE said that the number of international arrivals is expected to reach 20.5 mln, a significant increase compared to the 19.5 mln arrivals, which was the previous estimate, not including people travelling on cruises.
If the provisional Bank of Greece data regarding 1.2 mln road and maritime arrivals are confirmed – not taking cruises into account – then the total number of arrivals will exceed 21 mln when the same number stood at 17.9 mln in 2013 and 15.5 mln in 2012.
During the first semester, cruise arrivals showed a slight increase compared to 2013, with the total number standing at around 2.5 mln. Overall, the new visitor arrival estimate for 2014 reaches 23 mln, showing a 15% increase compared to 2013. International air arrivals continued in October, rising at a rate of 23.5% and resulting in a 15% increase during the ten month period between January and October, compared to the previous year.