A
study by ITB Berlin and IPK International shows the eurozone crisis
is impacting on tourism to Greece.
Compared
with last year, arrivals in Greece from northern and central Europe
were in decline. All other southern European
holiday destinations were less badly affected and were able
to balance losses and even grow.
From
January to August 2012, compared with 2011, arrivals in Greece fell
by 12 per cent. This figure is put into perspective when one
looks at last year, when Greece benefited indirectly from the Arab
Spring and grew by 7 per cent. Preceding years had already
witnessed a slight decline. Arrivals from countries such as Germany
and the UK were particularly low, with 20 to 30 per cent less
trips to Greece. New markets such as Russia and Romania
helped to partially halt the downward trend.
Italy,
Spain and Portugal fared better. In 2011 arrivals in Italy grew by
four per cent. This year, incoming numbers from Germany and the
UK were down by three and one per cent respectively. There
was a particularly harsh decline in arrivals from Spain which dropped
by all of 18 per cent. Emerging markets such as Russia and
Poland grew substantially and significantly boosted the overall
incoming statistics. Overall, Italy reported two per cent growth
in tourism.
The
Iberian peninsula was also able to balance a large part of its losses
by gaining new source markets. Thus, in 2011 Spain benefited
significantly from the political situation in the Arab countries and
reported eight per cent growth in arrivals.
This
year the incoming numbers from the UK again grew by 5 per cent,
while those from Germany stagnated. Arrivals from Italy fell by
14 per cent, a significant drop. Spain is becoming an
increasingly popular destination with new source markets
and reported a double-digit increase in arrivals from Russia and
Scandinavia. Overall, trips to Spain rose by 3 per cent.
The
situation is similar in Portugal. Following the Arab Spring it
reported nine per cent more arrivals than last year, and in
2012 incoming numbers from Germany rose by four per cent,
marking an upward trend. Incoming numbers from Russia and Scandinavia
were even more positive. However, as was expected, there was a
significant drop in arrivals from Italy and Spain. All in all, trips
to Portugal grew by three per cent.
“There
is an evident decline in trips between countries in crisis. Demand in
central Europe has remained more or less constant and has even grown
in the new markets“, is how Dr. Martin Buck, director of the
Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin, commented
this analysis. “The study highlights the complex relationship
between the eurozone crisis and arrivals in southern Europe.”
