Brits 'fond of Greece holidays'

Greece is a very popular destination for British travellers, the country's tourist board has suggested.

Sophia Panayiotaki, director of the UK and Ireland office of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, said that Brits were keen on city breaks in Athens and Thessaloniki and were also fond of beach holidays.

She added that around a fifth of all visitors to Greece are British, pointing out that her country attracts tourists from France, Germany and the US as well.

"Mainly the islands are popular, although we do see a trend for city breaks," Ms Panayiotaki revealed.

"During the summer from April to late September, Britons go to the islands like Corfu in the Ionian Islands, Zante, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Crete."

Ms Panayiotaki's comments defy suggestions from the Touristic Research Institute that visitors to Greece have declined by eight per cent in the past seven months.

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