Greece’s tourism boom: new hotels, airports, and attractions

source: theweeklyjournal 

There are plenty of new options already set to welcome travelers this year. Greece is shattering tourism records, even in its off-season.

From January to March 2024, typically the nation’s slowest time for tourism, Greece experienced a 24.5% spike in international arrivals versus the same time last year, according to the Bank of Greece. Overall, Greece welcomed 32.7 million visitors, its most ever, swelling to 120% of its pre-pandemic levels and outpacing the rest of the continent. The United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) expects the rest of Europe to just catch up to 2019 levels sometime later this year.

To accommodate the surge in interest, new attractions and ambitious projects are set to redefine local tourism. There are plenty of new options already set to welcome travelers this year.

Greece’s Largest Palace Reopens

In January, the palace where Alexander the Great was crowned king reopened to the public after 16 years and a restoration to the tune of $22 million. About an hour's drive from Thessaloniki, The Palace of Aigai now showcases 15,000 square feet of stunning ancient mosaics, marble floors, and columns.

The restored palace — three times the size of Parthenon — captures the beauty of Ancient Greece and serves as a bridge between the present and an age of antiquities.

Exciting New Projects on the Horizon

Slated for completion in 2025, the government is converting the abandoned Ellinikon International Airport into the world's largest coastal park. The Ellinikon will now host be a 600-acre green space lined with homes, shops, and hotels.

With so many new visitors, the government plans to open a new international airport in Crete in 2027. The new Kastelli International Airport will welcome 18 million passengers to Heraklion, Crete. That's 10 million more than the current airport. The design shows that the 19-gate airport plans to feature its own energy production and management systems to reduce its CO2 footprint.

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