Over the past few years there has been a consistent as well as appreciable increase in the number of Greeks traveling abroad, according to the National Statistics Service. It is estimated that well over one and a half million, or more than one tenth the population of Greece, will have made trips abroad this year.
These floods of Greek tourists are spending more money than ever before as well. The National Bank of Greece records that well over one billion dollars is being exported by these traveling Greeks in one year.
The greater majority of these travelers are going places for pleasure and exploration rather than for visits to relatives and for shopping tours as were previously the prime reasons for Greeks traveling abroad. And the Greeks now travel further afar as well, to such far-off destinations are the west coast of the USA, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, India, Nepal, China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, and even the Amazon River basin in Brazil and the Galapagos islands in the Pacific ocean. And, they are touring `in depth`, as it were. For one example, in Mexico (which is attracting some 10.000 Greeks this year), they go beyond Mexico City and Acapulco, venturing to Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Cancun, and Cozumel and exploring the many fascinating remains of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations. A host of Greek tour operators publish slick full-color brochures, some of 200 pages and some organize their own charter flights.…
Over the past few years there has been a consistent as well as appreciable increase in the number of Greeks traveling abroad, according to the National Statistics Service. It is estimated that well over one and a half million, or more than one tenth the population of Greece, will have made trips abroad this year.
These floods of Greek tourists are spending more money than ever before as well. The National Bank of Greece records that well over one billion dollars is being exported by these traveling Greeks in one year.
The greater majority of these travelers are going places for pleasure and exploration rather than for visits to relatives and for shopping tours as were previously the prime reasons for Greeks traveling abroad. And the Greeks now travel further afar as well, to such far-off destinations are the west coast of the USA, Hawaii, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, India, Nepal, China, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, and even the Amazon River basin in Brazil and the Galapagos islands in the Pacific ocean. And, they are touring `in depth`, as it were. For one example, in Mexico (which is attracting some 10.000 Greeks this year), they go beyond Mexico City and Acapulco, venturing to Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Cancun, and Cozumel and exploring the many fascinating remains of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations. A host of Greek tour operators publish slick full-color brochures, some of 200 pages and some organize their own charter flights.
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