The new year 2024 is starting with the best of prospects as regards arrivals from Ireland, after a strong increase (+33%) of air arrivals from Dublin in the first nine months of 2023, versus the same period in 2022.
This upward trend is expected to continue, as new air routes to Heraklion, Rhodes and Zakynthos are planned, while the messages from the market at the Holiday World Show Dublin 2024 (26-28/01/2024) were more than encouraging.
The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) participated in the most important tourist event of the year for Ireland, with a bigger stand compared to 2023, a targeted promotion of Greece and a number of co-exhibitors, including the Region of Central Macedonia, the Halkidiki Tourism Promotion Organisation, the Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation and the Rhodes Hotel Association.
The Greek stand was visited by tourism professionals, journalists and influencers, as well as Irish officials. It should be pointed out that on the first day, up until 12:30, the exhibition was only accessible to tourism professionals for the purpose of holding business meetings, while afterwards there was a large participation by the general public looking for information on Greek destinations, such as Athens, the Cyclades islands, Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Zakynthos and the Sporades islands. The majority were repeat travelers, but many were planning their first trip to Greece and were looking for inspiration and directions.
During the exhibition:
* It was agreed to organize a familiarization trip (fam/press trip) to Heraklion in May 2024, for the launch of the new Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Heraklion.
* An additional press trip was planned on behalf of the Irish newspaper The Sun and a fam trip for Travel counselors in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki with the aim of enriching their proposals for Northern Greece.
New airline routes
Flights to new destinations in Greece from Ireland will be available in 2024.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
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