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.
- In 2019, Greece welcomed over 31.35 million international visitors, contributing approximately $23 billion to the total tourism expenditure in the country.
- 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).
- 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
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
Europe Travel Statistics Resources
References
- 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 ↩︎
