Greek Museum E-ticket Boosting Revenue

The archaeological site of Knossos on Crete.

An e-ticket system implemented at 11 Greek sites and museums boosted revenues by 10.01 percent in the second half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, and by 7.16 percent across all sites, the culture ministry said this week citing Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data.

More specifically, ELSTAT data indicates that in the July-December 2018 period the number of visitors increased by 16.31 percent at 11 sites and museums and by 6.85 percent at all other sites.

Photo source: Region of Attica

The e-ticket was initially launched as a pilot program last June and is currently in use at 11 popular archaeological sites and museums in Attica, Crete and the Peloponnese – including the Acropolis, the archaeological site of Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the archaeological area and museum of Ancient Messini – through etickets.tap.gr, where users can purchase tickets online.

 The ministry is currently working to extend the e-ticket system to other cultural and archaeological venues with priority set for the National Archaeological Museum, the Royal Tombs Museum of Aigai in Vergina, as well as monuments in Thessaloniki.

Budgeted at 1.2 million euros, the e-ticketing system was made possible with the support of the National Bank of Greece and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, both of which will also cover maintenance costs for the first two years of operation.