Well, here are April stats; not so well but we mustn't complain at all since the island is not yet ready :(
Arrivals Summary
|
|
2013
|
2012
|
+/- %
|
|
Domestic
Arrivals
|
24.804
|
27.108
|
-8.5%
|
|
International
Arrivals
|
48.012
|
63.124
|
-23.9%
|
|
Total
|
72.816
|
90.232
|
-19.3%
|
International Arrivals by Country
|
Country
|
2013
|
2012
|
+/-%
|
|
UK
|
9.486
|
11.930
|
-20.5
|
|
France
|
5.586
|
7.064
|
-20.9
|
|
Russia
|
4.989
|
3.325
|
+50
|
|
Germany
|
4.572
|
4.612
|
-0.8
|
|
Sweden
|
4.467
|
5.565
|
-19.7
|
|
Finland
|
3.455
|
5.931
|
-41.7
|
|
Belgium
|
2.924
|
2.970
|
-1.5
|
|
Italy
|
2.915
|
4.550
|
-35.9
|
|
Netherlands
|
2.795
|
2.468
|
+13.2
|
|
Denmark
|
1.755
|
2.481
|
-29.2
|
|
Poland
|
1.059
|
1.272
|
-16.7
|
|
Norway
|
985
|
1.409
|
-30
|
|
Ukraine
|
963
|
488
|
+97.3
|
|
Lithuania
|
708
|
1.326
|
-46.6
|
|
Israel
|
602
|
5.357
|
-88.7
|
|
Luxembourg
|
477
|
356
|
+34
|
|
Romania
|
206
|
157
|
+31.2
|
|
Albania
|
68
|
308
|
-77.9
|
Hi, your comment is, sadly, so true!
ReplyDeleteWe have enjoyed a good April (+25% YOY) and May is even better at +65% to date.
Despite liking the hotel and the VERY few businesses open in Faliraki during April (thank guys!). I wont even mention the beach situation!!!
All guests expressing an opinion said they'd like to return (all first-time visitors) but would NEVER come early season again. Finding 95% of the resort SHUT they felt the local community didn't want them here!
This is very sad, as these people are our ambassadors - word of mouth is the BEST form of promotion!
Unless Rhodes' business owners AND the authorities get their act together to co-ordinate opening for the BEGINNING of the season we'll never thrive at this time of year.
As the "carrot" of extending the season and boosting the island's reputation and income does not appear to work, maybe it's time for a big "stick"?
At the risk of being pilloried, maybe licenses should only be issued on the basis of opening for a pre-defined season, with hefty fines for each week they are closed during the season in resort areas? :P
Dear Mark, your comment -as always- is correct as its based on solid reasoning, common sense and most importantly field feedback.
ReplyDeleteA stick you are suggesting wouldn't work, though instead some positive motivation (i.e discount in taxes and labor social security costs) would stand a better chance for having early openers-late closers during the season. Of course businesses need customers so this should be a -let's say- 1-5 years project tryng each year to bring an additional x percent of visitors.
Moreover maybe its about high time for resorts such Faliraki, Ixia, Kolympia, Pefkos and others to self-organize a bit as municipal and state authorities lack the money, the interest, the expertise and the personnel to do so.