Tourism in Greece

Greece mainland and the Greek islands are one of the favorite holiday destinations in Europe. In fact, Greece comes in the 15th place in the world rating of tourist destinations, since, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece, it receives more than 15 million tourists every year, after countries such as the USA, China, Spain and Great Britain.

Most tourists come to Greece from Europe, especially the EU countries, and from the USA, while fewer originate from the other continents. In 1989 and 1991, approximately 90% of the tourists to Greece were Europeans, in particular German and British citizens. Until the mid-1990s, the tourism flow in Greece would not surpass 8 or 9 million; however, 1994 was a determinant year for Greek tourism because more than 10 million people chose Greece and the wonderful Greek islands to spend their summer vacations.

Greece is a famous country, popular for its clean beaches and its long history. There are hundreds of archaeological and historical sites to visit in Greece that gloriously depict the country’s past. Its landscape is mainly mountainous and the terrain is not very fertile, except for some valleys scattered along the Greek mainland. However, Greece is surrounded by water, in particular the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. The country consists of more than 1,400 islands and islets, but only 169 of them are inhabited.
These Greek islands form, one by one, a beauty of nature. They are the most popular Greek destinations, especially in summer. Big or tiny, green or infertile, ideal for cosmopolitan or relaxing vacations, one thing is for sure: all these islands have the necessary requirements and facilities to offer you memorable vacations!

Mykonos, with its cosmopolitan character; Santorini, with the most romantic sunset in the world; Rhodes, the island of the medieval castles, the sun and the butterflies; Crete, with its revolutionary spirit; Ios, with the wild nightlife; Corfu, with its Venetian style; Ithaca, the homeland of Ulysses; Samos, the greenest of all Greek islands; Skiathos, with its long and sandy beaches; all these constitute just a few examples of the most famous Greek paradises.

The Greek tourism started flourishing in the late 1960s and particularly in the early 1970s. The first Greek hotel unit was created in 1968 in Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, Crete and since then many accommodation options have made their appearance all along Greece. In a slow but stable pace, Greece has today managed to become one of the most favorite tourist destinations among Europeans, Asians and Americans. It is worth mentioning that, according to surveys, the Chinese and the Austrians vote for Greece as the best holiday spot ever!!

The peak season for Greek tourism lasts from May to September, since the third-quarters of the tourism flow choose this time of year to come to Greece. The sunny weather, warm beaches and variable landscapes invite people from all over the world to experience the Greek hospitality and peaceful way of life.

The income from tourism constitutes a large part of the Greek economy. Many new jobs have been created and business has been supported, through setting up numerous gift shops in each area.

A special interest is also given to promote, apart from summer holidays, winter tourist resorts, therapeutic spas, ecotourism, working holidays and discovery holidays.

Are you still hesitating? We invite you to surf our web pages to take a view of the astonishing beauty of Greece and the Greek islands. We provide you a wide range of Greece pictures and an even wider range of information for more than 60 Greek holiday destinations. However, when it comes to Greece, pictures are not enough. You should come to experience its beauty by yourself!!


General Greece Tourist Information
Concerning offices located in Greek islands, it seems that there are only few in some islands: Paros tourism, Corfu Tourism and Kefalonia tourism and in some major tourism location like Santorini, Rhodes, Skiathos... Unfortunately many islands do not have a tourism office: Mykonos tourism, Naxos tourism, Amorgos tourism, Kefalonia tourism, etc...
But there is a general Greece National Tourism Organisation

General Info about Greece
Greece is a country unique of beauty that has everything to
offer to the visitor who wants to make tourism: beautiful and variable landscapes, some of the most beautiful beaches in the
world, picturesque whitepainted or stone-built villages, passionate culture and traditions and, a heavy history, archaeology and mythology heritage.

Greece is also called Ellas or Hellada or Elliniki Dimocratia
(Hellenic Republic).

Geography
It is a peninsular and mountainous country situated in southern Europe, and it is bordered by the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It has borders with Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and it is the only country of the EU that doesn’t have any border with the other members.

Greece has a total area of 130.800 square km and one fifth of the area is represented by the large number of islands. In fact, Greece has more than 1400 islands, but only 169 out of them are inhabited. The majority of the islands are scattered in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey.

Greece has a population of 10,610,000 (2000) of which 3.7 million are concentrated in Athens, the country’s capital.

Politics
Greece is a parliamentary republic with a president at the head of the state. The actual head of government is the Prime Minister Karamanlis and the chief of state is the President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos.

Economy
Greece is one of the poorest countries of the European Union. It is an agricultural country. 22% of the workforce is employed for agriculture, 27% in the industry sector and 50 % in the services. Tourism and shipping is the biggest economical contributor of Greece.

Religion
The Greeks belongs to the Orthodox Church with a majority of 98% of the population.