Holidays for Easter, traditional destinations

After the pandemic and quarantine, the tourist flow of the Easter season is returning to normal levels.

All traditional destinations show an increased level of bookings for Easter days. There is a growing trend in demand for areas such as mountainous areas, the sea coast, as well as islands. This, according to industry experts, means that Greek tourism in 2023 is likely to exceed the level of 2019 (the best year in Greek history).

According to ΠΟΞ, hotel occupancy in most Easter destinations in the country ranges from 70% to 90%, and in some cases will reach 100%. However, the number of seasonal businesses that will reopen during Holy Week remains small compared to the total number of accommodation facilities in the country (about 30%).

The most popular destinations from Good Friday to Easter Monday include: Corfu and Hydra, Peloponnese area, Ioannina, Patmos, Loutra Edipsos, Kavala, Thassos, Pelion, Santorini (50% of hotels will be open), Mykonos, etc. It is expected that on Crete, South Aegean and Halkidiki most hotel businesses will reopen after Easter and before early May. The occupancy of hotels and tourist facilities in Athens and Thessaloniki remains satisfactory.

As for foreign destinations, Greeks prefer European ones such as Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, Paris, Budapest, Strasbourg, Cyprus, Vienna, Bruges, and also America. In addition, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Egypt, thanks to their patriarchates, are for another year a pole of attraction for the Greeks in the context of a religious ideal. In general, so far the majority of bookings are for trips abroad, with a ratio of 7 (abroad) to 3 (within Greece).

Mykonos and Santorini can claim a significant share of incoming tourist traffic during the Easter period, but most Greek islands are banking on Easter days to increase tourist traffic and enter the new tourist season in the best possible way.

Patmos
Passover celebrations on Patmos are back with many special customs available to the public after three years (pandemic crisis). In tourist properties that will operate (open) on Easter, occupancy is already reaching 100%. Crowdedness, local cuisine and unique traditions will “decorate” the rest.

ios
Mayor Ghikas Ghikas notes that “Ios will become a magnet for young people who are not permanent residents of our country and want to get in touch with the historical identity of the island. Impressive events, the procession of the epitaph and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord will become unforgettable.”

Skopelos
“Despite the restrictions on ferry routes on the Sporades, the interest in spending Easter in Skopelos turned out to be higher than expected. Traditions, local color and picturesque villages create the ideal conditions for the Easter holidays on the island,” says Ioanna Efstatiou, Chairman of the Skopelos Municipality Tourism Committee.

Kalymnos
“At Easter, an increased occupancy of tourist facilities in Kalymnos is expected. On Good Friday, the ceremony of 14 tombstones (14 επιτάφιοι) in the picturesque port of Potia will create a unique atmosphere of religious sacrament. In Kalymnos, Easter is identified with “muuri”, a traditional recipe with stuffed lamb (or goat carcass) that is slowly baked all night on Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday at noon, a traditional celebration will take place with the participation of local dance groups,” said Mayor of Kalymnos Dimitris Diakomichalis.

Naxos
“Easter on Naxos resembles a “palette” of colors, aromas, tastes and emotions. Occupancy will be high, over 70%, in most tourist sites that will be open during the Easter period. The variety of original customs and very competitive prices, combined with the excellent quality of service, will be the “recipe” for the perfect Easter this year for many Greek travelers,” said Vangelis Katsaras, Deputy Mayor of Naxos and the Department of Tourism of the Lesser Cyclades.

Karpathos
“In Karpathos, the customs of Holy Week and Easter have remained unchanged for centuries, offering visitors an unforgettable experience in all villages without exception. The tourist flow is expected to be higher than in previous years,” said Manolis Paragios, Deputy Mayor for Tourism of Karpathos Municipality.

Source link