The new trend of foreign tourists in Greece, many of them Romanians, puts the owners of taverns in difficulty, who notice unexpected changes in the way they take their meals on vacation.
Greeks who own taverns and restaurants in heavily visited areas watch with concern how tourists, including Romanians, change their culinary behavior, more and more choosing to prepare their own meals instead of eating in taverns.
This “new hotbed” of visitors, especially those from Eastern and Central Europe, directly affects the income of local people who depend on tourism.
A NielsenIQ survey, cited by Ekathimerini, shows that the main motivation for this change is restaurant prices, which are often considered excessive.
Although most tourists continue to have their main meals in hotels and restaurants, almost a quarter of them (23%) always or almost always prepare breakfast, and some of them even lunch (19%) and dinner (15%) where they are staying and no longer frequent taverns. Beach snacks are even more frequently prepared at home or bought in stores, reaching 41%.
Not only foreigners, but also Greek tourists have adopted a similar, but more pronounced, behavior: six out of ten prepare their own breakfast.
“Domestic tourists are not just visitors. They act like temporary residents,” said Eleni Pipiligka, representative of NielsenIQ, at the annual “Shopping Trends” conference, noting that some even buy laundry detergent on vacation.
In terms of supply channels, large supermarket chains are preferred by 45% of tourists, followed by local grocery stores (42%) and discount supermarkets (26%).
Especially German, Romanian and Polish tourists prefer Lidl stores, with whose discounts and products they are familiar, keeping their consumption habits from their countries of origin.
The most purchased products include fresh fruit and vegetables, savory snacks, bread, biscuits, dairy products, chocolate, olive oil (often for gifts) and breakfast cereals. From the category of non-food products, tanning oil is among the favorites of foreign tourists.
Amid new tourist preferences, Greek tavernas are being forced to adapt, with local operators hoping price adjustments and more attractive offerings will bring them back to traditional dining, while supermarkets are enjoying a windfall, confirming that the modern holiday has become increasingly “autonomous” and economy-oriented.
Romanians are changing their holiday plans after the tensions in the Middle East. Destinations that win tourists
The conflict in the Middle East is beginning to be seen in Romanians’ vacation plans. Many of those who would normally have chosen the United Arab Emirates or Jordan are now reorienting themselves to Europe or to holidays in Romania, according to travel agencies.
Tourists who would normally have chosen luxury hotels in Dubai are now looking for similar alternatives in Europe. “Other destinations for which an increase in demand is observed are the nearby European ones. Especially Bulgaria and Greece. (…) Tourists who want quality hotels, as they were in Dubai, choose four- and five-star hotels on the Bulgarian coast and in Greece for the summer season”, says Traian Bădulescu, spokesperson of the National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT).
Apart from these two destinations, travel agencies estimate an increase in demand for other traditional Romanian destinations. “I think there will be an increase in demand for other classic Romanian destinations such as Spain, Italy, Malta or Croatia”, he says.
However, in the next period the most sought-after destinations could remain near Romania. “Especially the winners are Greece, Bulgaria, but also Romania”stated the ANAT representative.
