Hoteliers’ Union: Athens needs new growth model for tourism

Αthens needs to begin a discussion on a new growth model for its tourism: this was the message of the 52nd general assembly of the Athens-Attica Hoteliers’ Union held on Monday, ANA reports.

The assembly was presented with a survey on tourism trends in Athens and Attica which showed that 43% of tourist locations in Athens were not hotels but mainly short-term rental locations, with the latest estimates saying that the ratio between hotel beds/short-term rental beds was 1:1.

The country’s tourist product is currently at a stage of maturity, while in Athens tourism growth has exceeded its limits since a large number of layovers are concentrated within a few square kilometers, George Soklis, a professor at Panteion University said, adding that conditions were ripe for a discussion over a new growth model for tourism.

Tourism trends were down in Athens, with the average hotel occupancy rate down 11% in the January-November period compared with the corresponding period in 2019.

Source: tornosnews.gr