Greece bets on September to extend tourism peak

With cooler weather, fewer crowds, and potentially better value, Greece is betting on September to extend the summer tourism peak.

September is proving popular, with Greece ranking among Europe's most booked destinations for the month, according to CGTN interviews.

The tourists are coming, but some of them stressed how much the holiday budget matters.

Some are traveling more often, but being more selective about where the money goes.

"We're not limiting ourselves because of the prices; we're limiting ourselves because of our budget," said a tourist in Salamina, just a short ferry ride from Athens.

"We travel more, and we spend money on the activities that create memories, and not so much on the most expensive restaurant," said another tourist.

While some businesses in Salamina are noticing, hotel owner Diamantis Kontraros said he had more visitors this summer, but many were watching every euro they spent, something he said was obvious at his restaurant tables.

"I would see five people trying to eat one plate of greens, some fries and one portion of calamari. Five people trying to share that. I realized it wasn't that they didn't want to eat. They simply didn't have the money in their pockets to eat everything they wanted," said Diamantis Kontraros, owner of Blue Hotel Salamina.

In the first seven months of the year, Greece welcomed almost 9 percent more international visitors than last year, while tourism revenues rose 12 percent to around 15.5 billion U.S. dollars.

However, growth wasn't consistent month to month. In June, arrivals rose nearly 7 percent, but average spending per trip fell more than 6 percent.

Experts say the challenge for Greece isn't simply how many people come. It's when they come, where they go, and crucially, how much they spend.

"When the demand is high, prices tend to go higher. This is the general principle. I always prefer to talk about value for money rather than absolute values. So if a product is sold at a higher price and the customer is happy, his money got value, I think it's perfect; there's no problem. The problem of having higher demand in July and August, the high period, is not a marketing problem; it's a structural problem," said George Rokopoulos, a tourism consultant.

Greece bets on September to extend tourism peak

Cities across China are decorating landmark sites with national flags and floral displays as National Day is around the corner.

Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing City is displaying over 2,000 flags alongside carefully arranged floral landscapes covering main roads, commercial hubs, and bridges. In Shexian County of east China's Anhui Province, red flags are fluttering amid the Huizhou Ancient City's floral greenery.

At the Wenshan Dongshan Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province, citizens unfurled a giant 24-by-16 meter national flag, singing vibrant songs to express their heartfelt wishes. Cities such as Chengdu in southwest China, Taiyuan in north China, and Yichang in central China are also showcasing the five-star flag to usher in the holiday.

Flower displays bloom throughout streets and parks, with cities of Fuzhou in the east and Daqing in the northeast hosting themed floral exhibitions that brighten public spaces. Markets bustle with activity as fresh produce flows steadily. In Zhongmu, Henan Province in central China, trucks loaded with pomegranate, honey tangerines and kiwi line up early to meet demand. In Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, flower markets bloom with over a thousand varieties meeting diverse consumer preferences.

Ahead of the holiday, Hong Kong's streets have been adorned with bright national and special administrative region (SAR)'s flags alongside large National Day posters. Community groups are holding cultural activities featuring traditional crafts to celebrate the 77th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

In Macao, national flags wave at border checkpoints, streets, parks and squares, paired with celebratory banners creating a lively National Day atmosphere.

Cities across China adorned for National Day celebrations