[IMG=19971-5717]Summer season 2006 is marked with the increasing air traffic volume to the Peloponnesus peninsula. Thus, Andrey Kuznetsov, President of Bureau South Cross, stated as follows: ‘we plan to operate 19 weekly charter flights starting from June 2nd’. Last year the operator planned 9 Moscow – Mikonos – Peloponnesus – Moscow flights but realized 11 flights despite the average 46% load. However, at the beginning of season 2006 this figure has increased at 80–90%.
On the one hand, Russian tour operators point out that the main attraction of the Peloponnesus is a rich excursion program. On the other hand, they emphasize the shortage of hotels in the South of Greece. Thus, Alexander Tsandekidi, the Head of Mouzenidis Travel, said: ‘we offer only individual tours to Peloponnesus. I would not risk to organize a charter program to the resort owing the shortage of hotel base’. Furthermore, Elina Aidinidis, Executive Director of Golden Eagles Tours, added: ‘they do not have enough economy-class accommodation, 2-3* hotels’.
‘Hotels in Peloponnesus are known for the best price/quality relation in Greece. For example, accommodation rates offered by a 5* hotel in the Peloponnesus are the same as in 4* hotels in Thessaloniki. The majority of our clients prefer high quality hotels and, thus, Peloponnesus is the best choice for them’, disagreed Andrey Kuznetsov. President of South Cross believes that the peninsula has high potential in the Russian market: ‘Next year we plan to increase air traffic volume to Peloponnesus operating two weekly flights from Moscow and one-two charters from the Russian regions’.
