Santorini lives in historic glory: 35% more than in 2019

“The picture at the moment is very good and everything shows that it will get better as the season progresses” says Travel.gr Danai Passa, Sales & Marketing Director of the Katoikies hotel group. “This year in Santorini, all trips, weddings, excursions that have been canceled or postponed in the previous two summers are taking place. Historically, the American market has been the one that fuels luxury tourism in Santorini, and its restoration this year is a very good step. But at the same time, we also “remembered” the markets whose existence we had “forgotten” during the 2 years of the pandemic, such as that of Brazil”, adds Ms. Passa who – like the entire hotel service industry on the island – hopes to “reopen” travel from Asian countries, which used to account for much of the tourist traffic in Santorini off-season, in spring or autumn. “In any case, the data for this year is particularly positive. Barring an unforeseeable event, we can be optimistic for a record season, both in terms of duration and number of arrivals.

The two years of underperformance of foreign tourism was also an opportunity for the hotel industry to upgrade its product. “We proceeded with the rebranding and renovation of our hotels, taking advantage of the lower activity and the absence of commercial events in the previous period.”

For his part, its founder Public Relations Travelworks, Kostas Panagakis observes that the privileged position of the island as a luxury destination on a global level is also reflected in recent investments in the hotel sector. “Last year and especially this year, there were significant arrivals in the hotel sector and in the gastronomy sector, which is an ideal basis for the island to assert itself as a sustainable destination. premium.LA. Mr Panagakis adds that one of the reasons for the tourist “explosion” observed this year in Santorini and in general in the Greek islands “may also be linked to the fact that the popular destinations in Asia are still only “partially” visited.

In any case, this year has its own special characteristics. “In Santorini, like everywhere in the world, we observe the phenomenon of revenge travel. So after two years of confinements, travel restrictions, trips planned and canceled for reasons related to the pandemic, people want to travel. Greece and Santorini in particular have always been popular with the American public, who choose to stay on the island for several days and leave large sums of money there.