greece tourism figures 2022

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism in Greece - statistics & facts

What are the leading inbound tourism markets in greece, what are the most popular destinations for greek tourists, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2034

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by type

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2034

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

European countries with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals 2019-2023

Number of inbound tourists in Greece 2005-2023

Further recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2034
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2023, by country
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by type
• Basic Statistic Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by tourist type
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2034

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Greece in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2023, by country

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 and 2023

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Greece in 2019 and 2023, by type

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by tourist type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in Greece in 2019 and 2023, by type of tourist

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Greece in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in million jobs)

Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourists in Greece 2005-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading international travel markets in Greece 2019-2023, by arrivals
• Premium Statistic Average length of stay by inbound tourists in Greece 2023, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourist visits to Greece 2019-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic International travel receipts in Greece 2003-2023
• Premium Statistic International tourist expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by purpose of trip

Number of international tourists in Greece from 2005 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Leading international travel markets in Greece 2019-2023, by arrivals

Leading inbound travel markets in Greece from 2019 to 2023, by number of arrivals (in 1,000s)

Average length of stay by inbound tourists in Greece 2023, by country

Average length of stay of international visitors in Greece in 2023, by country (in number of overnight stays)

Number of inbound tourist visits to Greece 2019-2023, by region

Number of international visits to Greece from 2019 to 2023, by region (in 1,000s)

International travel receipts in Greece 2003-2023

Value of international travel receipts in Greece from 2003 to 2023 (in million euros)

International tourist expenditure in Greece 2019-2023, by purpose of trip

Value of international travel receipts in Greece from 2019 to 2023, by purpose of travel (in million euros)

Inbound tourist destinations

• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Athens, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Thessaloniki, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic International air arrivals to South Aegean region of Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Premium Statistic Number of international air arrivals in Crete, Greece 2010-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound travel markets in Crete, Greece 2019-2023, by number of visits
• Premium Statistic International air arrivals on the Ionian Islands, Greece 2010-2023, by island
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound tourist markets in the Ionian Islands, Greece 2019-2023

Number of international air arrivals in Athens, Greece 2010-2023

Number of international air arrivals in Athens, Greece from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of international air arrivals in Thessaloniki, Greece 2010-2023

Number of international air arrivals in Thessaloniki, Greece from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

International air arrivals to South Aegean region of Greece 2010-2023, by island

Number of international air arrivals on selected islands in the South Aegean region of Greece from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of international air arrivals in Crete, Greece 2010-2023

Number of international air arrivals on the Greek Island of Crete from 2010 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Leading inbound travel markets in Crete, Greece 2019-2023, by number of visits

Number of inbound tourist visits to the Greek Island of Crete from 2019 to 2023, by country of origin (in 1,000s)

International air arrivals on the Ionian Islands, Greece 2010-2023, by island

Number of international air arrivals on the Ionian Islands in Greece from 2010 to 2023, by island (in 1,000s)

Leading inbound tourist markets in the Ionian Islands, Greece 2019-2023

Leading inbound tourist markets in the Ionian Islands in Greece from 2019 to 2023 (in 1,000 visits)

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Total number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2022, by type
• Basic Statistic Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of overnight stays at tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2023, by origin
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Greece 2019-2034

Total number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2022

Total number of domestic trips in Greece from 2015 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of domestic trips in Greece 2015-2022, by type

Number of domestic trips in Greece from 2015 to 2022, by type (in 1,000s)

Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2023

Number of domestic arrivals in tourist accommodation establishments in Greece from 2013 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of overnight stays at tourist accommodation in Greece 2013-2023, by origin

Number of overnight stays at travel accommodation establishments in Greece from 2013 to 2023, by type of tourist (in millions)

Domestic tourism spending in Greece 2019-2034

Domestic tourism expenditure in Greece in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Greece 2005-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading outbound travel destinations from Greece 2016-2023
• Premium Statistic Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2003-2023
• Premium Statistic Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2016-2023, by destination

Number of outbound tourists from Greece 2005-2023

Number of outbound travelers from Greece from 2005 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Leading outbound travel destinations from Greece 2016-2023

Leading destinations for outbound travelers from Greece from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2003-2023

Value of international travel payments by residents of Greece from 2003 to 2023 (in million euros)

Outbound travel expenditure in Greece 2016-2023, by destination

Value of international travel payments by residents of Greece from 2016 to 2023, by country of destination (in million euros)

Accommodation

• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2013-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2023, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Greece 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue in Greece 2017-2029, by segment

Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2013-2023

Number of travel accommodation establishments in Greece from 2013 to 2023

Number of tourist accommodation establishments in Greece 2023, by type

Number of travel accommodation establishments in Greece in 2023, by type

Number of hotels and similar accommodation in Greece 2013-2023

Number of hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Greece from 2013 to 2023

Travel and tourism revenue in Greece 2017-2029, by segment

Revenue of the travel and tourism market in Greece from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2029, by segment (in million U.S. dollars)

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Greece Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 16 February 2024

Greece , a country known for its rich history, fascinating mythology, and stunning landscapes, is a popular tourist destination. Contributing about 5-10% of GDP , the tourism industry plays a crucial role in Greece’s economy.

How many tourists visit Greece each year?

Over 32.74 million tourists travelled to Greece in 2023. 1

• In 2019, Greece welcomed 31.35 million international visitors.
• Visitor numbers plummeted to 7.37 million in 2020 due to travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
• Despite global travel restrictions, Greece saw tourism begin to recover by 2021 and 2022, with 14.71 million and 27.84 million international visitors, respectively.
• In 2023, Greece welcomed 32.74 million international arrivals. This was an increase of 342% compared to 2020 but still 4% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).

How much do people spend in Greece each year?

Visitors to Greece spent approximately $22.3 billion in 2023.  2

• Before the pandemic, in 2019, Greece earned $23 billion from tourism.
• Tourist receipts dropped to $5 billion in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The following year, 2021, saw a recovery, with revenue climbing back to $12.4 billion .
• The growth continued, reaching $18.1 billion in 2022 and further increasing to $22.3 billion in 2023.

Where do visitors to Greece come from?

• In 2019, the majority of tourists visiting Greece were from Germany , recording 4 million visits. Bulgaria closely trailed behind with 3.9 million visits. The United Kingdom , Italy , and France made up the rest of the top five with 3.5 million , 1.6 million , and 1.5 million visits, respectively.
• By 2022, the United Kingdom topped the list with nearly 4.5 million visitors. This number surpassed the figures from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The second largest group of tourists came from Germany , with around 4.4 million arrivals. 3

How many people visited Greece in 2022?

• Greece welcomed 27.84 million international visitors in 2022. This showed an increase of 277% compared to 2020 during the pandemic but still 18% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).

How much did people spend in Greece in 2022?

• International tourism expenditure generated $18.1 billion in tourism revenue in 2022.

Impact of Coronavirus – Greece Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

Tourism is one of the major contributors to the Greek economy.

• Greece saw tourism GVA drop 44.8% to $5 billion in 2020 which contributed 4.4% to the national economy. 4
• The global pandemic severely affected Greece’s tourism industry, with only 7.4 million visitors in 2020, a 76.48% decrease compared with 2019.
• However, a slight recovery in tourism was observed in 2021. The numbers rose to over 14.7 million international visitors, which was a 99.42% increase from the previous year, yet still down 53.09% from 2019.

Greece Travel Statistics 2019 – International and Domestic Tourism

2019 was an amazing year for tourism in Greece with large shares of international and domestic tourists.

• Most of the tourists that visited Greece that year were from Germany (4 million visits) and Bulgaria (3.9 million visits). Followed by the United Kingdom (3.5 million visits), Italy (1.6 million visits), and France (1.5 million visits).
• In 2019, there were 27.9 million total domestic arrivals, 5.2 million of which were overnight stays and 22.79 million were trips. 5

How long do people stay in Greece?

Over the past decade, tourists visiting Greece stayed for an average of one week to nine nights .

• In 2010, the average stay was 9.3 nights , gradually decreasing each year to reach 7.4 nights by 2019.
• In 2020 and 2021, there was a slight increase in the length of stay, with visitors staying an average of 8.7 nights and 8.9 nights, respectively. 
• However, by 2022, this figure decreased to 7.8 nights .

Greece Travel Resources

• Car rental prices in Greece

When is the best time to visit Greece?

• The best time to visit Greece is during Spring, April to June , and early Fall, September and October . The days are long and the weather is mild. Destinations are open but relatively quiet. 6

What are the top attractions to visit in Greece?

• Athens – As the historical capital of Europe, Athens is Greece’s most popular destination. It offers a mix of rich history and modern charm, with the renowned Parthenon atop the Acropolis at its heart.
• Santorini – Known worldwide, this island dazzles with cliff-top towns, deep blue sea-filled caldera vistas, and unique black volcanic sand beaches.
• Thessaloniki – As Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki enthrals visitors with its UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches, a seafront White Tower, and the Triumphal Arch of Galerius.
• Corfu – This Ionian island takes visitors back in time with its Venetian-inspired Corfu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and romantic pedestrian-only streets that lead to ancient fortresses and traditional cafes.
• Crete – History and culture abound in Crete. Top attractions include Samaria Gorge, Knossos – Europe’s oldest city, and an array of captivating beaches.

What are the main reasons people visit Greece?

• Greece captivates many visitors with its rich history, stunning islands, and pleasant climate, making it a popular holiday destination. This is evident from the increase in holidaymakers, from 3.6 million in 2020 to 4.9 million in 2022. 7
• Another common reason people visit Greece is to see friends and relatives . Although this saw a drop from 1.4 million visits in 2019 to around 789,078 visits in 2020, the numbers rebounded, reaching approximately 1.3 million visits in 2022.
• Business-related visits to Greece also contribute to the tourism figures. While business visits dipped from 391,724 in 2019 to 163,750 in 2020, they recovered somewhat to 276,632 in 2022.
• Visits due to other personal reasons noted a minor decline from 322,339 visits in 2019 to 230,339 in 2020, only to bounce back to approximately 355,297 visits in 2022.

Greece Outbound Tourism Statistics for 2019

In 2019, approximately 7.8 million Greece residents travelled abroad, spending approximately $3.1 billion on their overseas holidays. 8

• Germany, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Italy, and Cyprus, in particular, seem to hold a place in the hearts of the Greeks.

Greece Travel Statistics Resources

• Parthenon Statistics

Europe Travel Statistics Resources

• Paris Statistics
• Germany Statistics
• Iceland Statistics
• Milan Statistics
• Rome Statistics
• Venice Statistics
• Norway Statistics
• Portugal Statistics
• Barcelona Statistics
• Sweden Statistics
• London Statistics
• Oxford Statistics
• Scotland Statistics
• UNWTO : Greece Inbound Tourism Arrivals ↩︎
• UNWTO : Greece Inbound Tourism Receipts ↩︎
• INSETE : Inbound Tourism Statistics ↩︎
• OECD : Tourism Trends and Policies – Greece ↩︎
• UNWTO : Tourism Statistics Database ↩︎
• AT : When is the best time to visit Greece ↩︎
• EuroStats : Trips by Purpose – Greece ↩︎
• UNWTO : Outbound Tourism Statistics – Greece ↩︎

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GREECE 2022 TOURISM FIGURES SET TO REACH PRE-PANDEMIC FIGURES

Greece has become the eu’s spectacular summer hit as the number of tourists to the country has, once again, been hitting a million per week in august 2022..

Greek authorities are optimistic that this year’s tourism figures for 2022 could reach – and even surpass – its pre-Covid levels.

Early indications for Greece tourism are that this year will be close or even break its 2019 record of 33 million arrivals and that the total of €18 billion in tourism revenues could be surpassed. Summer 2022 seems to be bringing record after record in total arrivals each month.

For the first six months of the year, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority reported over 22.4 million passengers, a figure up by 270% over 2021 and only down by 9.4% over 2019. For the first time in June 2022, international passengers number stood above corresponding figures of 2019. With 3.48 million passengers on international flights in June 2022, Greek airports recorded 0.1% more travellers than in the same month of 2019 (3.47 million travellers).

The trend is likely to continue as pointed out by Greece’s Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias in a recent interview with the Greek newspaper ‘Proto Thema’. “More than one million tourists are expected every week in Greece in Augus,” he said. “In July, total tourist arrivals exceeded 900,000 every week.”

Greece “is set to see unprecedented figures in arrivals and in tourism industry earnings in the month of August, surpassing even the record-breaking numbers of 2019,” added Kikilias.

Germany, Britain, Balkan countries and the USA are leading the recovery

Monitoring data about tourist arrivals, the Minister reported that the number of German and British tourists to the country in July, had already surpassed the record of 2019 in many destinations across the country, including Rhodes and Crete.

Arrivals are also progressing rapidly at Athens International Airport with July 2022 figures surpassing 2019 figures. In July, the airport recorded a rise of 257% in travellers from Serbia and an increase of 177% in travellers from Turkey. Arrivals from more traditional markets such as Germany and France grew respectively by 29% and 15% in July. Total tourist arrivals from the USA are also up by 50% compared to 2019.

“This year, Greece will be the number one destination for travellers from France and Israel,” predicted Vassilis Kikilias in his interview. “Greece is very high on the list for travellers from the Balkans – particularly Bulgaria – and in the top three destinations for travellers from Germany and Scandinavia.”

Tourism is proving, once again, that it is Greece’s ‘heavyweight industry’ as it supports the national economy but also create jobs for a population severely impacted by unemployment.

According to data from the WTTC , travel and tourism generated prior to the Covid crisis 20.7% of Greece’s total GDP and provided jobs for 820,000 people. After contracting in 2020 to 9.2% of total GDP and 708,000 jobs, 2021 saw travel and tourism bounce back strongly. Last year, travel and tourism generated again 14.9% of Greece total economy while employing over 780,000 people. It confirms that 2022 would then see the tourism industry returning to its pre-pandemic figures and may even surpass them.

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Greece visitor arrivals jump, tourism data points to record-setting year ahead

From the islands of the Aegean, to the streets of central Athens, Greece is seeing growing numbers of visitors, pointing to another record setting year and bolstering the country’s ranking as one of the world’s Top 10 tourist destinations.

A new report by National Bank of Greece is forecasting 35 million tourism arrivals in 2024, a 7% increase over last year’s record levels. The bank sees the country collecting €22 billion in tourism receipts this year − up 10% from 2023, also a record year.

With its picturesque, white-washed villages, its abundance of cultural sites and its sunny, Mediterranean climate, Greece is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The sector accounts for as much as one-third of Greek GDP, according to the most recent estimates by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE) , and is one of the main drivers behind this year’s 2.5% growth forecast for the Greek economy.

So far this year, visitor arrivals in the first quarter are up 24% from a year earlier. And, according to separate surveys by INSETE and the European Travel Commission , which represents national tourism organizations, Greece is one of the Top 5 intra-European destinations this year favored by European travelers. Meanwhile, the Athens International Airport – the country’s main point of entry for foreign visitors – is expecting to handle more than 800 flights per day to and from Greece during this summer.

Over the next five years, Greece’s tourism outlook appears broadly positive. Greece is set to welcome almost 40 million tourists by 2028, according to a recent report by Fitch Solutions, with growth driven by increasing visitors from China and India. For this year, the company sees tourist arrivals rising 5.3% to 34.5 million visitors.

Investor interest in Greek hotel properties is also growing. Last year, Greece was among the Top 10 European investment destinations for hotel investors according to Deloitte. This year, according to the latest European hotel investor survey by CBRE , Greece is ranked fifth. And, for the first time ever, Athens is ranked among the Top 10 metropolitan destinations in Europe.

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Greece’s 2022 Tourism Revenues Set to Exceed Forecasts by €3bn

Photo source: Greek Tourism Ministry

Year 2022 is expected to close for Greece with tourism revenues exceeding forecasts by 3 billion euro s, said Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias .

“The goal set in the government budget last year was for tourism revenues to reach 80 percent of 2019 levels or 15 billion euros . With hard work and against multiple crises, the goal was not only achieved but the year appears to be coming to a close with an additional 3 billion euros,” said Kikilias adding that this was a “great victory”.

In an interview to Real News, Kikilias said he was pleased with this year’s tourism performance , a result, he said, of hard work but also due to the successful extension of the tourism season.

Among others, the minister said travelers are still visiting Greece into December and 11 airlines have agreed to boost flight capacity and destinations for off-season months such as December, January, February and March.

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

Kikilias went on to refer to the importance of the sector as a key driver of the Greek economy, adding that eight in 10 investments made in Greece are directly or indirectly linked with tourism.

At the same time, said Kikilias, accommodation and restaurant services providers have benefitted from the unprecedented increase in tourist arrivals this year. Citing Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data, Kikilias said that in Q3, turnover for both sectors exceeded 2019 levels marking increases by 22.1 percent for hotels and by 19.8 percent for restaurants.

Additionally, Greece is the number one destination in Europe and at the same time the country marking the fastest recovery, said Kikilias.

Lastly, the minister referred to government measures to support hotel enterprises and SMEs in tourism located in remote areas through a number of programs subsidizing energy and heating oil costs.

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About the Author

Greece 10-month airport arrivals outdo 2019 levels, 19th east med yacht show to take place on poros in may 2023.

They have serious issues about prices…. because the costings are totally unrealistic…If Spain get it right as they have in the previous years 70s and 90s….then our Greece has uninvited competition which they might regret!…and yet the marketing appeal is unparalleled than anywhere in the Tourism Industry in Europe!… Good day from Thailand!

Not surprised prices in Crete were we holiday were way up, we have booked for next year, but if prices keep going up we will be going elsewhere after over 20 years.

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