Scandinavian tour operator Der Turistik and German tour operator Apollo are already booking travel packages for October, November and December at destinations in Rhodes, Kos, Corfu and Athens, Greece’s Minister of Tourism Vasilis Kikilias has announced.

Meanwhile, direct flights coming from the US this year extend until winter, making it difficult for last-minute fliers wishing to visit Greece in August and September to find flights.

The minister praised lesser-known islands such as Karpathos for having worked over recent years to improve their infrastructure and other tourism-facilitating features. “Come and see the prices in Karpathos, they are excellent for both Greek and foreigner travellers,” he said.

Kikilias also spoke of “so many beautiful alternative destinations in Greece, inhabited islands, mainland destinations, places in northern and in southern Greece,” as well as northern Evia which was devastated by fires last summer, and Samos, where a special discount pass has been created for travellers choosing to visit there.

“We should support all of Greece. It is a patriotic duty for all of us,” he said, adding that Epirus on the mainland, which only a few years ago was considered as “the poorest region in Europe” has now become a popular region to visit because of its year-round destinations such as Ioannina, Aristi, Metsovo and Papigo.

With information from moneyreview.gr.