BoG: Greece Welcomed Over 10 Million Tourists in First Half of 2023
Inbound traveler flows rose by 26.0 percent in the first half of the year boosting travel receipts by 23.9 percent and reflecting the country’s strong tourism dynamic.
According to data released by the Bank of Greece this week, the number of international arrivals from January to June this year increased to by 26.0 percent to 10,061.8 thousand (over 10 million) compared to 7,983.3 thousand (some 7.9 million) in the same period a year ago.
The number of arrivals through Greece’s airports rose by 19.4 percent and by 52.8 percent through road border points with EU arrivals up by 21.8 percent year-on-year to 5,836.5 thousand and non-EU residents arrivals up by 32.4 percent to 4,225.3 thousand.
Main source markets for Greece in the six-month period under review were Germany, with traveler numbers up by 9.3 percent to 1,555.3 thousand, France up by 20.6 percent to 639.9 thousand, the UK by 6.3 percent to 1,294.3 thousand, and the US by 62.7 percent to 528.3 thousand. Travel flows from Russia dropped by 16.8 percent to 13.3 thousand.
In June, inbound traveler flows increased by 17.9 percent to 4,302.2 thousand pushing travel receipts up by 17.2 percent.
Arrivals through the country’s airports rose by 11.9 percent year-on-year and by 46.1 percent through road border points. Central bank analysts attribute the positive performance for June to stronger traveler flows from both within the EU (up by 16.4 percent) and outside the EU (up by 20.3 percent).
Source markets supporting Greek tourism in June were Germany with 684.3 thousand travelers visiting Greece, France up by 6.0 percent to 238.9 thousand arrivals, the UK up by 10.5 percent to 654.4 thousand, the US up by 38.8 percent to 209.3 thousand and Russia with arrivals up by 26.6 percent to 5.5 thousand.
I’d take the figures with a pinch of salt unless people are using all inclusive hotels the footfall on Crete in Sissi me resorts is well down Stalida and Agios Nicolas tavernas and bars empty compared to seven years to ten years ago. The prices on Crete are killing tourism people not returning and choosing more favourable destinations.
Please note that many Italians arrive by sea and land and so the airport data underestimate them vs those arriving only by air.