TUI supports winter tourism in Greece – The example of the TUI SOCCA Champions League in R
Source: Tornos News
Report from Crete: Vicky Tryfona
106 teams from 35 countries and approximately 14,000 overnight stays in 22 hotels at the end of the tourist season — Rethymno is hosting two major sports events, the TUI SOCCA Champions League and the SOCCA Aegean Cup, from October 17 to 20 and on October 21 and 22 respectively, with the presence of TUI’s strongman, Sebastian Ebel.
Today, Friday, the opening day of the first event, which is being covered by Tornos News, the CEO of TUI gave statements to journalists, sending a clear message about the need to develop winter tourism in Greece, emphasizing that “everyone must contribute to this effort.”
With a focus on developing a sustainable, twelve-month tourism model, he stressed that Greece has all the characteristics needed to lead even in winter. “TUI is here to support this long-term development,” he said.
Mr. Ebel noted that there are huge opportunities for Greece during the shoulder season, pointing out that last year saw a strong increase in demand, and this winter season is also expected to grow, even though it is still “at low levels.”
“There are great possibilities to achieve this. Weather conditions are now milder, and Greece has all the means to develop an attractive winter tourism offering,” he stated.
The need for synergies and government support
The head of TUI emphasized that the development of winter tourism requires cooperation among all stakeholders — hoteliers, food service entrepreneurs, local authorities, and the state.
“I know that not all hotels are suitable for winter operation, but it’s important for restaurants and businesses to remain open, with available staff,” he mentioned.
At the same time, he said the government must support the launch of new flights during the winter season, noting that this is a key condition for boosting visitor numbers.
However, he warned that the increase in fees in Greek tourism “does not help the development of the winter season.”
TUI’s contribution and new initiatives
Mr. Ebel expressed his pleasure that TUI actively supports not only tourism, but also sports and cultural events that enhance the country’s year-round appeal.
Events like the one in Rethymno, or a marathon in November or a music festival in March, can truly support the shoulder season, he noted.
He also highlighted the importance of shaping a tourism product focused on alternative tourism, which can be promoted through targeted marketing.
“If there is a good product, yes, it’s worth promoting,” he added.
Greece among TUI’s top destinations
According to the CEO of TUI, Greece remains among the Group’s top five destinations.
“It’s very important for us to develop new opportunities. Mallorca, for example, has managed to offer year-round tourism. If we work properly with hotels and local partners, we can achieve it here too,” he emphasized.
Market outlook and season performance
Referring to tourism trends, Mr. Ebel said that the summer of 2024 saw a significant increase, as did the winter of 2024-2025, while this year’s summer season “was stable, with the same number of visitors, but higher revenues.”
In addition, TUI has expanded its customer base, attracting visitors from Poland, the Czech Republic, and now opening the Romanian market, while plans are in place to enter the Spanish market in the future.
Although the traditional markets — the UK and Germany — are facing challenges due to economic conditions, “they have stabilized,” and TUI is offsetting any losses with new markets.
However, he stressed that the rise in prices is a serious obstacle: “Many customers, especially families, can no longer easily afford their holidays,” he noted.
A. Fiorentinos: 14,000 overnight stays due to the event
“We have 106 teams from 35 countries and approximately 14,000 overnight stays in 22 hotels in Rethymno for the TUI SOCCA Champions League at the end of the tourist season,” highlighted the GNTO Secretary General, Andreas Fiorentinos, calling the event a “living advertisement in which GNTO participates.”
The GNTO Secretary General emphasized that the Organization’s cooperation with TUI is close and has led to high-budget co-promotion. These efforts, he said, are part of diversifying the Greek tourism product through the development of thematic and sports tourism, which “can add value to Greece.”
Our correspondent in Rethymno, Vicky Tryfona, with GNTO Secretary General Andreas Fiorentinos
Based on this, he underlined that “Crete, more than other regions of Greece, can achieve year-round tourism,” and that extending the season, already evident in October, is a fully attainable goal for Crete.
Rethymno’s Mayor, Giorgos Marinakis, highlighted the long-standing presence of TUI in Rethymno and its partnerships with the hotel sector, particularly with Grecotel.
“It’s no coincidence that here is a man whom even ministers sometimes struggle to meet,” he said, referring to TUI’s top executive. Mr. Marinakis added that Mr. Ebel has recognized Rethymno’s strength and believes in the city and its tourism partnerships. He thanked him for his presence and contribution to this event.
In closing, he sent an optimistic message: “Rethymno proves that quality is not a matter of size but of values. It is the city of letters and culture, a city you return to because it offers you experiences and memories.”
Deputy Mayor for Sports, Nikos Provias (photo), on his part, emphasized the Municipality’s strategic focus on developing sports tourism.
“We’re doing what we have been promoting for years in terms of sports tourism. We now see clearly the power of sports, how much it can help a local community, how a major collaboration can flourish, even in cities that lack sports infrastructure,” he stated.
He noted that the timing of the event at the end of the season was deliberate, “to offer the country’s tourism industry another opportunity to extend the tourist season further.” He added that this event “is the best thing we could offer the city at this moment.”
The original article: belongs to Tornos News .
