By Teti Igoumenidi

 

Hotel investments continue unabated in Greece, both in popular tourist resorts and in the two largest urban centers, Athens and Thessaloniki.

 

New hotels and resorts of Greek and foreign tourism business groups are opening their doors ahead of this year's summer tourist season and even more are about to operate in the next three years.

 

In Crete, the first "InterContinental Resort" will open this year in Agios Nikolaos and "Elios Hill" of the MK Hotel Collection on the Heraklion Peninsula.

 

"Deos" hotel by Myconian Collection is also expected to open its doors in May and a little later "Numo Mykonos", while "Santo Mine Oia Suites" by Metaxa Hospitality Group is also opening soon in Santorini. In Patmos, the renovated five-star "Patmos Aktis", a member of Marriott's Luxury Collection, will open in June as well as the "Andronis Minois" in Paros, the "Pearl Island Chios Hotel & Spa" under the management of Modus Amplio in Chios and Xenia Chios, owned by Avlum SA of the Group Chakos.

 

The operation of "Domes Maison Corfu" in Corfu is also expected within 2024, as well as the reopening of "Castle Kandia" in Nafplion.

 

In the meantime, more and more hotel investments – foreign and Greek – are being made and are expected to be concluded by 2027 or even until 2030 and even further. According to a report by Travelworks Public Relations, in the next four years more than 60 new hotel projects are expected to be developed in our country, with 40% of them under international brands. 

 

 

The Greek map of the earth's resources for spa tourism and wellness was included in an extensive study conducted by the Hellenic Geological and Mineral Research Authority (EAGME), with an emphasis on the country's clays and volcanic stones for spa use, published by naftemporiki.gr.

 

According to EAGME, global spa tourism is estimated to be worth between 45.5-75 billion US dollars. The Greek region can claim a strong market share, having a wide variety of natural spa resources. However, Greece so far accounts for only 3% of medical tourism worldwide.

 

Clays and volcanic stones from approximately 99 areas throughout the territory and 514 points of observation were analyzed in the recent technical study conducted by the Hellenic Geological and Mineral Research Authority (EAGME). There are still a few areas of interest for research and it would be good if they were included in the next NSRF, such as Crete, Lefkada, Corfu, Lesvos, Chios, Ikaria, Samos, Rhodes, etc. islands of the Aegean, as well as the Region of Western Macedonia, it was said.

 

The use of clay both for medicinal use and in aesthetics and cosmetology is gradually gaining ground amid an increase in the aging of the population and the recent trend of alternative health solutions. The development of the clay therapy industry can bring multiple benefits to local communities, such as higher entrepreneurship and tourism which will have a positive impact on the economy. In Greece, three areas have been officially approved for clay therapy by the state: the Krinides Mud Baths, the Agia Triada (Messolonghi) Thermal Springs and the Kyllini Thermal Baths.

 

Greece today represents only 3% of medical tourism worldwide, when Turkey, Poland and the Czech Republic hold 13% and Belgium 8%. It is noted that in 2025, medical tourism is expected to be one of the largest industries in the world, while the revenue of the global medical tourism market is estimated between 45.5-72 billion dollars, showing a growth rate of 15%-25% with approximately 14 million cross-border patients worldwide spending an average of 3,800–6,000 dollars per medical visit, including costs related to medical services, cross-border and local travel, and hospital accommodation.