Annual increase in Chinese arrivals will not reach 10 pct

Greece can only expect a moderate increase in Chinese tourism arrivals this year, less than 10 percent up on last season, according to the General Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises (GEPOET), which took part in the ITB China 2017 fair earlier this month.

GEPOET notes that the signs from China are favorable but not spectacular. So far group trips are lagging compared to personalized packages that Chinese tourists can easy find through online agents. It also stresses that it will take a long, persistent and systematic effort for Greece to tap the Chinese market for the desired level of holidaymakers from that country.

In any case, the federation estimates the situation could show a sudden shift only if direct flights are launched between Athens and Beijing. In this context it argues that "according to information that is pending confirmation, Air China and...