Title: Recent development and prospects of qualitative tourism in Greece: a statistical approach

Authors: K. Rontos, M.E. Sfakianakis

Addresses: Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Aegean University, Alkaiou 1, Mytilini 81100, Greece. ' Department of Business Administration, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Karaoli and Dimitriou str. 80, 18534 Piraeus, Greece

Abstract: The paper examines the evolution and structural characteristics of high-class tourism in Greece. Furthermore, it is an attempt to find out the typical profile of the tourist that prefers this country as a tourist destination. Using official monthly data for the period 1999-2002, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests are applied. Analysis has shown that, despite the considerable increase of high-class tourism, Greece is still a middle and low-class summer seaside tourist destination, attracting tourists rather from Europe than from Northern America or Asia. Due to income increases and their preference for short but qualitative holidays, Greek tourists have reinforced high-class tourism.

Keywords: high-class tourism; tourists place of origin; summer tourism; seaside tourism; alternative tourism; unfair competition; Greece; tourist destinations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASS.2009.027661

International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2009 Vol.2 No.3, pp.226 - 241

Received: 09 Sep 2007
Accepted: 13 Mar 2008
Published online: 06 Aug 2009 *

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