Greece’s ongoing economic crisis and the migrant crisis haven’t stopped tourists from visiting the country. New numbers released last month show that trend will continue in 2016.
Greece saw an 11 percent increase in visitor numbers between January and August compared to the same period in 2014. The tourism ministry expects visitor numbers to total 25 million in 2015, an increase of 3 million compared to 2014. That’s good news for a country whose citizens continue to suffer from a severe economic downturn.
“The migrant crisis has not had a major impact on tourism, despite the way some of the British media has exaggerated the problem — describing an image that doesn’t exist,” Elena Kountoura, alternate minister of tourism, Greece, told the Telegraph. “Even on those islands most affected, tourists are undeterred. Kos welcomed just three percent fewer arrivals during the first eight months of the year, while in Lesbos, visitor numbers, remarkably, rose by two percent. Visitors have actually embraced the refugees, and shown how responsible they are. During September, huge numbers came to give out clothes and offer help.”
It’s likely that low prices in Greece, pushed down by the struggling economy, are encouraging tourists more than the negative news coming out of the country is discouraging them.
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