| This article tries to find out what makes the | | | | accounts for about fifteen percent of all the |
| Greek island of Crete so special in the eyes of | | | | tourist arrivals in Greece, and there were about |
| world, and what significance does it enjoy | | | | 20 million visitors recorded in Crete alone last |
| historically and from the tourism point of view. | | | | year. No doubt the local tourism has been the |
| The world has always rejoiced visiting Crete, the | | | | mainstay for many Cretans for long now, with |
| largest of Greek islands and also the fifth largest | | | | jobs at the Crete hotels, in airlines, marine |
| in the whole of Mediterranean. The island is spread | | | | operations and those in the supporting roles falling |
| over an area of 8,336 km² (3,219 square miles) | | | | on their sides.The number of hotel rooms in Crete |
| in the Southern Greece, and forms one of the | | | | grew by 53% between the years 1986 and 1991, |
| thirteen Greek peripheries we know about. It is | | | | when the same was 25% for the whole of |
| also believed to have played a key role in the | | | | Greece. This should itself speak about the kind of |
| Greek nation's history, something quite evident | | | | bullish growth the Cretan tourism has witnessed |
| even today, as we go through its archaeological | | | | over the last two decades. A majority of the |
| past. There is a rich marine life, fine sea beaches | | | | Crete hotels will provide you with all those |
| and a great hospitality - of which the Crete hotels | | | | facilities, which are ascribed only with the luxurious |
| make up a key ingredient - to be explored and | | | | brands. The facilities may include pools, chance to |
| enjoyed by anybody willing to spend some quality | | | | take part in sports, camping, living in serviced |
| time on this island.Crete is land where the first | | | | apartments and traveling by air or sea routs etc. |
| great civilization of Greece, the Minoan, happened | | | | Thousands sail into Crete on yachts every year |
| about 4600 years ago; more precisely between | | | | as part of their holiday rituals.A voyage to Crete |
| 2600-1400 BC. The Minoan archaeological remains | | | | may be summarized as the discovery of the |
| at Phaistos and Knossos are two well known | | | | ancient Greek civilization, its present-day beaches, |
| tourist attractions. Apart from that, the | | | | sea resorts, flora and fauna, and also that of its |
| archaeological sites at the Samaria Gorge, | | | | five-star hospitality. You can select to either fly in |
| Rethymno and Gortys do also describe a | | | | or sail through the Mediterranean into the Cretan |
| significant amount of the Cretan history. Most | | | | periphery depending on the kind of tour package |
| tour operators will cover these sites and offer | | | | you may have chosen to buy on any given day. |
| you a great stay at one those well-administered | | | | There are more than a dozen locations to travel |
| Crete hotels.Although, there is hardly any written | | | | out to once you had finally started to settle in. |
| record of the Cretan history available today, one | | | | More information could be gathered by checking |
| can still gauge its immensity by visiting the | | | | out various Greece related websites, some of |
| remains of palaces, sculptures and paintings from | | | | which are the facilitators of hotel rooms and |
| that era. The capital city of Crete, Heraklion, | | | | private apartment bookings. |