AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS PREFER GREECE

The number of Australian tourists visiting Greece this year is expected to rise by 7 to 10 percent, according to the Director of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office in Sydney. Greece is gradually becoming a popular destination for Australian tourists and, based on all indications, the upward trend will continue, according to the GNTO head, speaking on the occasion of the Travel Expo tourist exhibition held in Melbourne.

Some 100,000 Australian tourists visit Greece annually, and the increased interest currently recorded is attributed to the country’s promotion abroad through the successfully held 2004 Olympic Games and the tourism promotion campaigns launched in various parts of the world.

On the other hand, the Euro has smashed the British Pound and the American Dollar. 2.5 million Brits come to Greece every summer as well as 353,000 Americans. The weak dollar will not keep Greek-Americans from coming to Greece but the usual American tourist may shy away from Europe for the time being. The question is how many Brits will stay in the UK or leave Europe all together this summer?

But wait, there's a glimmer of hope..the Germans. More than two Million Germans are supposed to come to Greece summer 2008. I may be wrong, but I have noticed many Germans come to Ios June and early July. And of course, the infamous Italians will invade Ios in August..1.2 million of them. Oh yes, let's not forget the new players on the Island..the Irish and the Norwegians!!

The Irish (0ver 60,000) have been coming to Greece for years, but for the first time many are coming on vacation..not work..and they have plenty O'money!! It also seems like half of them come to Ios. Also, thanks to Sunrise Hotel making a deal with a travel agency in Norway, there are plenty of Norwegians coming to Ios during the past few years. And for the guys who didn't know..Norwegian girls are super hot and dress top notch!! Over 300,000 come to Greece annualy. Over 730,000 Dutch, 492,000 Austria, 417,000 Sweden, 363,000 Belgium, 171,000 Cyprus, 161,000 Finland and 161,000 from Spain. Only 30,000 come from Latin America.

Lastly, approximately 600,000 French and 109,000 Canadians come for fun and sun in Greece. More than ever before people from FYROM, Serbia, and Poland have swarmed Ios to work for the summer. Over 3.6 million people come from Eastern Europe mostly to work. Ios used to have many Israeli 18-year-olds a few years ago, but after the major carrier in Israel stopped flying non-stop to Santorini and Ios lost the bungy jump at Far Out Beach..Ios did not have as many Israelis as before. That's ok, because when you had the Italians AND the Israeli teens acting like drunken monkeys..Ios was a lot like the Planet Of The Apes except with motor scooters..lol.