November 2021 Greek Tourism Revenues Close to Pre-pandemic Levels

Athens, Greece. Photo © Y. Skoulas. Source: Visit Greece

Tourism activity in Greece picked up in the last months of 2021, with November revenues exceeding 2020 figures and coming very close to pre-Covid-19 levels and 11-month revenues reaching 10.4 billion euros, said the Bank of Greece on Thursday.

More specifically, tourism revenues in November 2021 reached 286.8 million euros up from 70.3 million euros in 2020 and compared to 314 million euros in pre-Covid 2019.

The month’s international arrivals increased by 219.3 percent and revenue by 308.2 percent recouping 60 percent and 91 percent of November 2019 levels, respectively.

Greek tourism revenue at 10.47 billion euros in ten first months of 2021

Overall in the January-November 2021 period, tourism revenues came to 10.47 billion euros against 4.28 billion euros in the same 11 months in 2020 but down by 7 billion euros compared to record year 2019 (at 17.88 billion euros). 

The number of international arrivals for the 11-month period in 2021 grew by 96.8 percent and revenue was up by 144.6 percent over the same period in 2020 recovering 47 percent and 59 percent of corresponding 2019 levels, respectively.

Additionally, according to central bank data, November 2021 saw the current account deficit widen by 1.3 billion euros year‑on‑year to 2.5 billion euros.

In the January‑November 2021 period, the current account deficit recorded a decrease of 1.4 billion euros year‑on‑year to 8.9 billion euros.

November 2021 came to close with Greece’s reserve assets at 12.5 billion euros.