Greece tourism revives, now inflation is the worry
STORY: The tourists are flocking back to Greece’s beaches.
That’s raising hopes for an industry vital to the country’s economy.
This year the sector is expected to get back to 80% of the record revenues seen in 2019.
Babbis Voulgaris runs a resort on the island of Corfu:
“For the rest of the summer, we're optimistic; July, August seem very, very strong, and that's very important for us here on an island that lives out of tourism.”
Tourism accounts for one in five jobs in Greece, or even more in places like Corfu.
But for all the rebound hopes, there’s a new worry too.
Inflation is soaring, raising costs for businesses, and leaving holidaymakers with less cash to spare.
Michalis Minadakis manages a hotel on the mainland:
"The biggest problem we are facing now is the cost and the multiplying costs - not just an increase, but there are multiplying costs of energy, which are unbelievable, and which all of society are dealing with.”
For now, bookings remain strong.
Demand from the UK - one of Greece’s biggest markets - has tripled compared with 2019.
Greek hoteliers will be hoping that the cost-of-living crisis doesn’t bring the revival to a sudden halt.
