Tourism: Balkan region top performer for arrivals growth
Strong expansion in Montenegro, Greece, Slovenia
12 July, 14:16According to the ETC report 'European Tourism - Trends & Prospects 2019', Montenegro (+50%) was the "top performer" in Europe for the growth of tourist arrivals to date in 2019, but also Slovenia and Greece (both +8%) were "star performers".
"Montenegro has benefited from improved air transport accessibility and several promotional activities implemented by national tourism authorities," ECT said, adding that "2019 prospects for Greece are positive despite the return of competing destinations." "Balkan destinations' efforts to expand the tourism season, diversify the product offer, and develop niche marketing are bearing fruit", the Commission noted.
Good results were also recorded, in terms of international arrivals, in Bulgaria (+4,3% year-on-year between January-April), Croatia (+2,6% in January-May) and Serbia (+4.5% January-March). Chinese tourists continued to grow in numbers, with a significant growth in the first months of the years in particular in Montenegro (+150%), Cyprus (+62%), and Croatia (+44%).
The ECT noted that "demand for tourism in Europe is expected to maintain an upward trajectory over 2019." International tourist arrivals to Europe is projected to modestly grow by 3.6% in 2019, the ECT forecasted. (ANSA).