The tourist flow to Crete grew by 7% and to Rhodes - decreased by 20%

The tourist flow from Russia to Crete Greek Island increased by 7% in August in comparison with the same month of 2016. Positive dynamics (+ 3%) also is noted in Northern Greece and at Peloponnese Peninsula. But the number of Russian tourists visited Rhodes and Corfu in August is lower than a year earlier: by 20 and 6% respectively. This follows from statistics published by Greek airports. As for the growth leader - Crete, the fact that the August tourist flow from Russia to the island - 64 thousand people - is lower than in July (69 thousand) and June (70 thousand). As usual in the last summer month the demand, on the contrary, increases. Experts explain this by the fact that during the season a number of tour operators redirected some part of flow to opened Turkey. The positive dynamics of the tourist flow to Peloponnese the Director General of Mouzenidis Travel Alexander Tsandekidi connects with the growing popularity of this Greek region among Russians. According to him, the direction was actively engaged by all profile tour operators. Also he noted interest of tourists to Northern Greece, where the main players did not reduce their flight programs to Halkidiki. The decrease of demand for Rhodes is explained by the fact that the island is losing to the same Crete in the range of budget accommodation that is in demand this summer. In Rhodes there is a good selection of 4-5 stars hotels but not so many 3-stars ones. "By the next year the number of rooms in Rhodes will increase by about 2.5 thousand, but they will also be mainly in 4 and 5-star facilities", - says the CEO of TEZ Tour Greece Dimitris Haritidis. The dynamics of the tourist flow to Corfu somewhat worsened in August too. The reason experts call the same - the lack of places in hotels. The tour operators, who did not take sufficient number of guarantee rooms for the season, could not always confirm the accommodation in demanded hotels.