More tourists expected from Germany in 2014

In Crete, last year's surge by 18 pct (3.34 million arrivals) is expected to continue in 2014, with an increase of 10 pct in the arrivals of German tourists that are expected to exceed 500,000. The deputy region governor, Maria Lionis, told ANA-MPA that ''the goal now is to extend the tourist season to the months of autumn and spring. The region of Crete has blocked for this year's tourist season 10 million euros for the maintenance of the infrastructure of the island" according to ANA-MPA

The German market is expected to improve over last year in Rhodes as well, according to general manager of the Rhodes Tourism Organization Charalambos Palogiannidis, who notes that the significant increase in bookings has to do with the efforts of big tourist agencies to fill hotels with discounted bookings made during the winter. But he also expressed concern for the impact on tourism of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and of the sharp devaluation of the ruble, which would make Greek holidays expensive.

Santorini is at the same level, with an increase of 20 pct in bookings from Great Britain (because of two new flights per week by British Airways) and 40 pct from Austria.

More Scandinavian, French and Austrian tourists are also expected on Naxos island.