TUI Group

The latest of a series of positive articles on Greek tourism from Germany comes from Frakfurter Allgemeine (FAZ). In an extensive piece that focuses on the top tour operators in the country, FAZ dubs Greece as the top tourist destination.

Bookings for Greece are up by 23% compared to last year, according to data presented by German tour operators TUI. In more detail, the data showed that bookings to Crete had increased by 14%, Rhodes 26%, Corfu 6%, with Kos recording the highest rise at 41%. The western Peloponnese had a steady increase of 32%, as did Chalkidiki with 44%.

Britain's Thomas Cook said a visible recovery continues in bookings for Turkey and Egypt, although it echoed concerns raised by rival tour operator TUI over the market for travel by British tourists on May 18, saying that competition at home had slowed growth, Reuters has reported. 

TUI Group, Europe's largest tour operator, said summer trading was in line with expectations, with demand for Spain, Greece and the Caribbean helping to offset subdued bookings for Turkey and North Africa.

According to the evaluation of TUI Germany, there was an improvement in the quality of the hotels and the services provided by the Greek hotels.

Greece expects an increase of German tourists of up to 30% while arrivals from Germany last year increased 11,7%, which equals to 3,14 million tourists, with TUI being the agency of choice for their majority.

European travel and tourism giant TUI has reiterated its target of reaching at least 10 percent growth this year after seeing solid demand for winter and summer bookings, despite lower demand for Turkey and North Africa.

The Germans choose Greece and they raise the country’s expectations to 3.5 million tourists this year, compared with the 12% increase last year and the 3,14 million tourists of 2016. This number derives from the International ITB Tourist Exhibition in Berlin.

Bookings show an increased demand of Greece in summer, say German tour operators. According to Deutsche Welle, Germany’s largest tour operator, TUI registered a 4% increase in bookings for Greece in the current winter period and the coming summer, compared to the previous year.

European travel and tourism company TUI said it aims to start offering holidays to customers from countries such as China, India, Spain and Italy as it seeks new ways to keep its hotels full.

Germany's major tour operators are reporting an increase in bookings for holidays in Greece this year.

Data from Thomas Cook's German subsidiary point to a rise of more than 40 percent on last year, while demand for Greek vacations by TUI customers has grown 41 percent year-on-year, according to the online edition of the fvw journal.