Kalamata is high in City break tourism – After Athens and Thessaloniki
A key supplier of the economy for all seasons of the year, city tourism (city break) emerges as a “strong card” for many destinations that invest in it, while it seems that our country has very few options.
Even though it is usually limited to three or four days (from Friday to Monday) it is a form of tourism that gives a “breather” especially in the months when tourist traffic in general is down, both from Greeks and foreigners.
After Athens, which holds the city break scepter and Thessaloniki which follows but is very high in the preferences of visitors, the three cities that have a very developed city break tourism are Nafplio, Kalamata and Alexandroupoli, according to what he said . Speaking to the Athenian and Macedonian News Agency, Nikos Kelaiditis, president of the Association of Greek Tourist and Travel Agencies (HATTA).
“Greek cities have nothing to ask from those of the rest of the European countries and can attract even more tourists. Athens, of course, despite the pandemic, has developed a lot in the last five years. City break tourists I believe should increase by at least 50% but still have a lot of room to go much higher”, says Mr. Kelaiditis.
“Thessaloniki has a lot of citizens from the Balkans (Serbia, Bulgaria, North Macedonia) but it also has many Central European countries with direct flights. However, it is not making the most of its potential as it can certainly win a larger share of city break tourists,” he adds.
According to the president of HATTA, Nafplion has always been a destination for the weekend and is chosen mainly by Greeks but also by foreigners who visit our country.
Kalamata is also a city break destination for Greeks but also for foreigners from areas that have direct flights, especially in the summer months.
“Alexandroupoli, on the other hand, has tourism throughout the year from both Greeks and foreigners because it is very close to Turkey and Bulgaria.
The cities that have the prospects of becoming strong city break destinations are Ioannina, Volos and Sparta, as Mr. Kelaiditis estimates, pointing out however that Ioannina has already advanced quite a bit.
“A city can live from city break tourism if it has people all year round and especially in the months when there is low tourist traffic not only from abroad but also from Greece, i.e. from mid-November to mid-March. These are the months that have low tourist traffic with the exception of the holidays when tourism is mainly from Greece, and here I will say again with the exception of the regions of Macedonia and Thrace which also have foreign tourists due to road tourism. What needs to be promoted, in collaboration with the tourist offices of Greece and abroad, for the promotion of an integrated tourist product that will give many possibilities to the visitor and then, to make synergies and contacts with airlines”, notes Mr. Kelaiditis.
KALAMATA INVESTS IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Kalamata has developed a strong tourist potential. “In this direction, in addition to what we do as a municipality, by organizing cultural and sporting geographical events with pan-Hellenic and international reference, but also by supporting events that serve the needs of alternative tourism, an important role is played by the development of infrastructure, such as the connection of the city with the capital in about 2 hours with a modern highway, the operation of the Kalamata International Airport “Captain Vassilis Konstantakopoulos” which connects Kalamata with destinations in Greece and abroad, the port and the marina of the city”, emphasizes Thanasis Vassilopoulos. , mayor of Kalamata.
“Kalamata is a city where the visitor, in addition to views and museums, can enjoy the local culinary wealth, have fun and spend pleasant moments”, notes Thanasis Vassilopoulos, who assures that a visit to Kalamata is enough to make it one loves
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