Greece Favorite Holiday Spot for the French

French travelers have got a soft spot for travel with Greece topping their bucket list, pushing Spain and Italy to the side, according to a survey carried out by tourism consultants Protourisme.

The study reveals that one in three, or 45 percent of the French population, will travel abroad this summer, the majority heading for the Greek islands.

Favorite months for travel are July and August with holidaymakers expected to spend more at 678 euros compared to 643 euros last year.

According to the survey, 43 percent of those traveling abroad prefer hotel accommodation, 33 percent rooms to let or Airbnbs, and 10 percent a Club Med-style package deal.

“The package, including transportation, accommodation, activities is appealing to families with young children,” said Didier Arino, general director Protourisme.

Besides Greece, the French are also expressing interest in North Africa and Middle Eastern destinations with bookings for Tunisia up in 2018 by 110 percent.

In the meantime, in efforts to boost the number of French travelers to the Greek capital, the City of Athens has launched a digital campaign in collaboration with Mastercard. Aimed at Mastercard holders, it includes three short videos featuring three prime Athens experiences.