Study: Greeks Not Keen on Eating Out after Covid-19

The coronavirus (Covid-19) scare is making Greeks reluctant to travel and to eat out, according to the latest study released this week by the Research Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA).

More specifically, less than half of all Greeks (40 percent) are planning on taking a holiday this year, while 50 percent said they will steer clear of tavernas and restaurants.

Cafes, bars, and restaurants opened on Monday after months of lockdown measures aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19.

According to the IELKA study carried out on a sample of 1,050 consumers and focusing on consumer behavior in the post-Covid-19 period, 50 percent of those surveyed said they do not plan eat out this year, with 17 percent claiming they will do so later in 2020, and 33 percent that they will do so immediately.

Demonstrating the distress that the coronavirus crisis has instilled, four in 10 Greeks said they will continue to avoid going out generally this year.

Other interesting findings with regard to consumer behavior after Covid-19 include the fact that 30 percent believe they will not be able to take a vacation at all this year, with 8 percent claiming it will not be an option until 2021.

A total of 24 percent said they will still go on vacation unaffected by Covid-19, with 17 percent claiming they will limit their holidays, and 32 percent still not sure.

Of those polled, 37 percent expect to go on vacation in August, 16 percent in July onward, and 15 percent after summer to the end of the year.

In the meantime, due to the coronavirus outbreak and to the lockdown measures, supermarkets in Greece saw turnover exceed 1.5 billion euros over the February 24 – May 10 period.