Greece top destination of preference for Austrian tourists in 2013

Greece has once again risen to the top preference of Austrian tourists as a tourist destination, following a reduction in the number of Austrian visitors' arrivals over the past two years resulting for the Greek debt crisis, according to Josef Peterleitner, director of the Austrian branch of Europe's leading travel group TUI and president of the Austrian Travel Agents Association (OERV).

In statements appearing in the weekend editions of the large-circulation Austrian newspapers 'Kleine Zeitung' and 'Oesterreich', Peterleitner notes that despite the reductions in bookings in 2011 and 2012, Greece was nevertheless the top airport destination for Austrian tourists in 2012. He further said that TUI anticipates that Greek tourism will recover quickly, adding that Greece is already the top destination in bookings this year on the Austrian tourist market, with Turkey in second position.

Given the present trend, Peterleitner said that bookings for Greece have risen by nearly 20 percent compared with 2012, adding that TUI has expanded its itinerary to Greece where, he noted, prices have been kept at 2012 levels, which makes holidaying in Greece an affordable option. He noted that the fears of strikes and unrest in Greece in 2012 had not come true, and on the contrary the quality of services was good and visitors were left satisfied.

According to the two newspapers, the top destinations in the Austrian tourists' preferences for vacations this year are Greece, followed by Turkey, Spain, Egypt and Tunisia, respectively.

Austrians will be able to get a "first taste" of holidaying in Greece at the Greek National Tourism Organization's (GNTO) pavilion at the International Fair for Holidays that opens in Vienna on Thursday, with more than 15,000 visitors expected during the four-day travel industry exhibition.

SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS AGENCY