By 2021, the number of Chinese choosing Greece as their holiday destination could reach one million (from 150,000 who visited in 2016), whilst mid term that number could even go up to 1,5 million.
The possibilities in the Chinese market for Greek tourism, appear to be better than ever, based on the findings of the first day yesterday, of the 4th Greek-Chinese Business conference which was help in Athens.
Already, according to a report in capital.gr, the demand for organised package holidays to Greek destinations, by companies who are active in the Chinese tourist market, is going up rapidly, a fact which is being seen as the potential for the Chinese market to develop into the main source of visitors to the Country.
A major factor over the coming years, will be the increase in cruise holidays for Chinese tourists and the new investment of the construction of two new docking ports for larger cruise ships, by COSCO in the main port of Piraeus, will help with that expected growth.
Celestyal has already started a programme of cruises around Greek islands, exclusively for Chinese tourists and their business plan is an aim to carry 50,000 passengers a year by 2021.
The Chinese company Fosun, which is involved in the redevelopment of the old Elliniko airport in Athens is also looking to pick up a share of the Chinese tourist market in Greece, through a cooperation with Thomas Cook, with the sale of package holidays mainly to Chinese tourists.
