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This year’s August in terms of arrivals went better than in August 2019, it surpassed the barrier of that year which was a milestone for tourism in our country and at Zakynthos International Airport we reached 220 thousand arrivals.
August 2019 brought 204,000 visitors to Zakynthos through the international airport and this year we reached 220,000. Our island is among the destinations that in almost all the months of the summer exceeded the figures of air arrivals of 2019. However, businessmen constantly remind us in all tones that we must consider other elements as well as quality characteristics of the tourists who choose Zakynthos for their holidays.
The tourist agent Markos Damanakis spoke to us about this year’s tourism year, who mentioned a successful summer in terms of arrivals, but added that many of them were arrivals with vouchers and this does not mean that 2023 will be the same.
Regarding revenue, he said that not everyone did well and the reason is that the hotels had signed with prices for the years 2020 and 2021 and so the increases and product revaluations took away a large percentage of profit from the hoteliers.
“We did well in terms of arrivals and collections, but not in terms of profits. The hoteliers state that out of the 20 thousand euros they used to pay for electricity, they have now received bills of 50 and 60 thousand euros and I wonder why they don’t hand over the keys to Power Companies to take over their operation… The situation as things have turned out is not good” said Mr. Damanakis and added that the hoteliers may ask the tour operators for increases of 15 and 20%, but the question is whether the companies that have a similar situation in their countries can give them that increase.
“We are afraid of the price rally upwards and the increase in fuel affecting the airlines.
What do the high turnovers do to them if there are no profits according to the amount of investment each entrepreneur has made?” asked Mr. Damanakis.
Asked about the salary of the workers given the shortage of staff recorded with great intensity this year, Mr. Damanakis said that there is no salary below 1000 euros for a worker in tourism and the worst thing is that they can leave you and leave in the heart of summer!
“We are after two years of hibernation and now everyone is tired” said Mr. Damanakis who criticized the state and the government, with continuous checks whilst making a collection on politics. The benefit policy must be stopped and now that the corona virus has passed we should all go to work and not wait for benefits” said the tourist agent who reminded us that with unemployment at 17% it is impossible for entrepreneurs not to find people to work!
Finally, Mr. Damanakis mentioned that now is the period when the Tour Operators have arrived and are signing contracts for 2023 with increases of 10 to 15%.
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Source in Greek https://ermisnews.gr/
