Greece

The Greek tourism industry is a significant economic activity and occupies a dominant position in the Greek economy. Since the 1960’s, Greece has been a popular sun and sea destination. In 2004, the country welcomed over 16.5 million tourists. At the same time, tourism consumption increased considerably since the turn of the millennium, from US$ 17.7 bn. in 2000 to US$ 29.6 bn. in 2004. In 2004, tourism receipts accounted for 14.3% of Greece’s total GDP while the number of jobs directly or indirectly related to the tourism sector were 659,719 and represented 16.5% of the country’s total employment for that year. According to a survey conducted in China in 2005, Greece was voted as the Chinese people's number one choice as a tourist destination.

In November 2006, Austria , like China, announced that Greece was the favourite destination for tourism giving optimistic hopes for the future. In 2006 the Greek Ministry of Tourism plans to invest more than 38 million euros in advertising the tourism industry, one of the most essential sectors of the Greek economy, four times the amount spent in 2002 by the previous government. In addition, the government intends to promote winter tourism in Greece, which could potentially increase international arrivals even further.

According to the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the number of hotels in Greece was, by classification (beds): • AA 155 (56,888), • A 944 (173,431), • B 1,712 (233,315), • C 4,496 (233,315) and • other 1,729 (59,065). (ELKE - Hellenic Center for Investment).

Marinas – Conference Centres:

There are 373 European awarded «Blue Flag» beaches in Greece and 97% of its beaches are of high quality standards. Greece has 51 marinas and 14,661 mooring places that provide such services as berths, fuel, water and electricity, telephony, and repairs. Some of the most developed and busiest marinas in Greece are just a few kilometres from the centre of Athens. The marinas of Alimos and Flisvos, on the south coast of Athens, have an aggregated capacity of more than 1,800 vessels. Conference tourism, targeted at academic, business, or cultural markets is a cornerstone of the Greek national tourism policy. As a result, the Greek Government, with strong support from local authorities, has been offering lucrative cash grants, leasing and employment subsidies and tax allowances to establish new conference facilities and expand existing ones. In a recent report in Meeting and Incentive Travel, Greece was ranked eighth in the world in overnight stays for conferences. Figures from Tourism Satellite Accounting Research, conducted by WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council), project a worldwide increase in revenues in business travel to Greece from US $1.51 bn. in 2001 to US $2.69 bn. in 2011. In 1998, the figure stood at US $1.18 bn.

Spas, Thermal Springs and Thalassotherapy Centres:

Greece has 752 thermo-metallic springs. Many have been classified as therapeutic by the National Institute for Geographical and Mineral Research.

Apart from Athens, other top ranking tourist destinations include the cosmopolitan islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete, Corfu, Paros, Ios, Kos, Kefallonia, Zakynthos and Hydra as well as the northern Halkidiki peninsula.

Ski resorts

Falakro, Lailias, Orfea Valley, Kaimaktsalan, Vigla Pissoderi, Vitsi, Seli, Chrysso Elafi, 3-5 Pigadia, Elatochori, Vassilitsa, Vryssopoules, Karakoli, Profitis Ilias, Pertouli, Karamanoli, Agriolefkes, Velouchi, Fterolakka, Kellaria, Gerontovrachos, Kalavryta, Ostrakina

Beach resorts

Cyclades beaches : Amorgos beaches , Andros beaches , Ios beaches, Milos beaches, Mykonos beaches, Naxos beaches, Paros beaches, Santorini beaches, Sifnos beaches, Syros beaches, Tinos beaches; Dodecanese Beaches : Kalymnos beaches, Karpathos beaches Leros beaches , Patmos beaches , Rhodes beaches ; Sporades Beaches: Alonissos beaches , Skiathos beaches Skopelos beaches; Crete Beaches : Chania beaches , Heraklion beaches , Lassithi beaches , Rethymno beaches ; Ionian Beaches: Corfu beaches , Ithaca beaches , Kefalonia beaches , Kythira beaches , Lefkada beaches , Zakynthos beaches ; Eastern Aegean Beaches : Chios beaches, Ikaria beaches, Lemnos beaches, Lesvos beaches, Samos beaches, Thassos beaches ; Saronic Beaches : Aegina beaches , Hydra beaches , Poros beaches , Spetses beaches ; Some Mainland Beaches: Halkidiki : Pelion ; Naxos: Ag. Prokopios; Lefkada: Kathisma; Ios: Papa beach; Mykonos: Paltis Yialos; Alonissos: Milies; Kefalonia: Milies; Kefalonia: Myrtos; Paros: Ag. Irini; Santorini: Perissa, Tinos: Ag. Ioannis; Paros: Ag. Ioannis; Athens beach; Andros Island; Corfu Island; Milos: Tsigrado; Alonissos: Vathi; Zakynthos: Navagio; Ithaca Island; Lefkada: Ag. Nikitas; Skopelos: Milia; Zakynthos: Gerakas; Lefkada: Porto Katsiki; Santorini: Red Beach; Milos: Sarakiniko; Ikaria beach; Ios: Gerakas; Naxos: Plaka; Santorini: Kamari; Skopelos: Panormos; Ithaca Island Alonissos, Crete, Ios, Kefollonia, Lefkadha, Makryialos, Myconos, Naxos, Paros, Sitia, Skiathos, Skopelos, Zakynthos

Spa resorts

Perle Resort Hotel & Health Spa Marine, Spa Resort Galini in Kamena Vourla, Fthiotida, Andronikos Hotel, Ateron Hotel & Spa, The Museum Spa Wellness Hotel, Candia Maris, Cape Kanapitsa Hotel, Creta Maris, Elysium Hotel, Esperides Hotel & Spa in Naoussa, Galini Hotel, Ionian Blue Spa Hotel, Kanapitsa Mare Hotel, Kinissi Palace Hotel, Knossos Spa Hotel, Majestic Luxury Hotel, Porto Tango Hotel, Rodos Park Health & Spa Centre, Santorini Princess Luxury Spa Hotel, Aldemar Olympian Village, Skafidia, Peloponnese; Aldemar Royal Mare Village & Thalasso, Limenas Hersonissou, Crete; Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort and Villas, Kalathos Beach, Rhodes; Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Elounda, Crete; St Nicolas Bay Hotel Resort Hotel & Villas, Aghios Nikolaos, Crete; Neptune Hotels, Resort, Convention Centre & Spa, Mastihari, Kos; Perle Resort Hotel & Health Spa Marine, Panorama Hotel in Chania Crete, Creta Maris Golf Hotel & Bungalows, Candia Maris All Inclusive Thalasso Spa Centre, Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort , Six Senses Spa

Golf regions

Creta Maris Golf Hotel & Bungalows, Kalimera Village, Terra Maris All Inclusive Golf Resort, Afandou Golf Course, Rhodes, Evoia & Volos Golf, , Corfu, Afandou Golf Club, Glyfada Golf Club, Porto Carras Golf & Country Club, The Crete Golf Club, Golf View Hotel, Crete Golf Club at Chersonissos, Porto Elounda Golf Course,Afandou Golf Course,Crete Golf Club