ATHENS — Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias, in an interview with Open TV on Wednesday, presented detailed information on how the tourism sector has fared so far this year.

Kikilias pointed out that in the week from September 13 to September 19, the occupancy rate of tourist accommodation and hotels across the country reached 63 percent.

"To understand the size of the demand that now exists for the country, the German airline Condor will also operate flights to Crete in November," the minister explained.

He also said that Greece was the top destination for French tourists in June, with an increase of 88 percent in the number of visitors compared to 2019 and an 18 percent rise in revenues for the country. In July, Greece surpassed even France itself as a destination for French tourists, even though the French traditionally prefer domestic tourism.

"For the first time in the history of the French Republic, Greece in July, according to the data of France's tourist organisation, became the first destination country, even above the domestic tourism of France," Kikilias said, among others.

Regarding the next tourist season, Kikilias mentioned that Jet2, the largest tour operator in the British market, is asking to offer destinations in Greece and Athens from next April. "The British aspire to bring the tourist season earlier. Most of the tourist accommodation and especially that of high level on all our islands and in the tourist destinations are busy and this will continue in October and November," he underlined.