After being named the Best Tourism Destination for 2023 at the annual Grand Travel Awards in Norway’s capital Oslo, Greece is expecting it will be followed up with another surge of visitors that in 2022 came close to breaking a record.

The honor came after the Greek National Tourism Organization’s (GNTO) Scandinavian branch was named Best Foreign Tourist Office as it worked to promote the country.

Pavlos Mourmas, Head of GNTO’s Scandinavia and Baltic States branch, said, “What characteristic makes our country attractive to Norwegians? Is it just the sea and the sun, the sandy beaches, the gastronomy, the nature, the culture and the scattered monuments and archaeological sites that transform the country into an “open-air museum?’”

Greece has been extending campaigns to try to lure visitors to come year round, including during the autumn and winter, which has paid dividends so far and the country already named a favored destination for this year.

Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that “In 2023 we will continue to work for the further extension of the tourism season with aim Greece to attract travelers throughout the year,” the sector the biggest revenue engine.