In his speech at the 32nd General Assembly, Executive Director of Eurobank, Fokion Karavias, addressed the tourism sector and its overall participation in the GDP. YOU ARE. He emphasized that Eurobank, as a strategic partner of SETE and Greek tourism, is especially happy to support this course.
Mr. Fokionas Karavias developed his opinion that Greece does not have a problem of “hypertourism” and to turn it into a universal problem is self-defeating. Referring to the real problems in his opinion, he spoke about infrastructure problems, which fortunately can be solved with the funds of the Rehabilitation Fund.
Finally, Mr. Karavias emphasized that the Eurobank, as a strategic partner of SETE and Greek tourism, will always support them with know-how, funding and means; can receive more visitors.’
The entire speech of Mr. Karavia.
“Dear partners in the field of tourism,
To say that tourism is the industry that has supported the country through the crisis would be an understatement. As it is also known, it is now setting consecutive records, with its overall share of GDP at an all-time high. In particular, in recent years, we have noticed a qualitative and quantitative improvement of the tourism product, which will continue.
If in 2009, 4- and 5-star hotels made up 15% of the total, today they have exceeded 25%. International brands are coming to our country for the first time. And Greek brands are expanding or planning to expand abroad.
At Eurobank, as a strategic partner of SETE and Greek tourism, we are particularly happy to support this course. Tourism is and remains the key pillar of our economy.
The questions today are of a different order. We must face the challenges of success. In 2010, Greece welcomed 15 million visitors. Last year they reached 33 million. This year we expect another record year. Managing such a change, given that it will be permanent and we aim to increase the influx even more, is not easy.
Maybe we can’t stand success, Greece seems to have many similar ones to show. Do we always see the dark side? I notice that a public debate is developing over the so-called “hypertourism”.
I do not believe that Greece has such a problem. Perhaps a destination or two related to a particular mode of tourist arrival. But turning it into a universal problem is not only inaccurate, but also creates self-doubt.
Are there any problems? Of course. We have an infrastructure problem. We urgently need massive investment in critical infrastructure. Fortunately, the resources of the recovery fund and other European funds are available if we use them fully and properly targeted for maximum positive impact.
Certain aspects need to be regulated and we need to accelerate the many important steps already taken, mainly at your initiative, to move to a sustainable hospitality model with environmental and social sensitivity as a priority. Significant investments will be required.
We are here, always a strategic partner of SETE and Greek tourism to support them with financing expertise and resources. Thanks to national infrastructure planning, your private initiatives and our contribution, Greek tourism can welcome more visitors,
to offer them a better travel experience and support long-term and sustainable prosperity in Greece; There is no need for misery, we need to support the pioneers of the transition to a future tourism product that can be identified with Greece.”
