Greece Welcomes More Than 8.5 Million Visitors in the First Five Months of 2026!

7/31/2026

Greece's tourism industry continues its impressive upward trajectory, with the latest figures from the Bank of Greece highlighting another exceptionally strong start to the year.

Between January and May 2026, the country welcomed 8.57 million international visitors, a 20.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Tourism revenues climbed to €5.32 billion, representing a remarkable 25.8% year-on-year growth, while the travel balance recorded a surplus of €3.81 billion.

The increase was driven by both higher visitor numbers and greater spending per trip, confirming Greece's growing appeal as one of Europe's leading travel destinations.

Top Source Markets

Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States remained Greece's strongest tourism markets during the first five months of the year.

Tourism revenues reached:

France and Italy also recorded solid growth, reflecting continued demand from key European markets.

Visitor Arrivals Continue to Rise

International arrivals exceeded 8.5 million, with particularly strong growth from European countries. Germany remained the largest source market with 1.23 million visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 966,000 arrivals.

Airport traffic continued to grow steadily, while arrivals through Greece's land border crossings increased significantly, highlighting the country's broad accessibility.

A Strong Performance in May

May also delivered encouraging results, with 3.33 million international visitors arriving in Greece and tourism revenues reaching €2.43 billion.

The United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States generated the highest tourism revenues during the month, reinforcing the importance of these markets to the country's tourism sector.

Looking Ahead

The latest figures demonstrate that Greece remains one of Europe's most attractive travel destinations. With rising visitor numbers, strong tourism revenues, and sustained international demand, the sector is well positioned for another successful year and continues to play a vital role in supporting the Greek economy.

 

 

Source: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/finance/economy/2141107/tte-pano-apo-85-ekat-toyristes-stin-ellada-to-pentamino-poioi-afisan-ta-perissotera-chrimata/?fbclid=IwdGRleATNnhNwZG9mBWZkaWQWULAbFADzJ554hqaXaRbKZnlSKcgNvGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR79pjhmEzUW9ZVpPdDHD7RbH-zvHtt0zSFRNHCyk1DmRHDAfx2_S5-5yrGqqg_aem_D7cz--NABV7oEVQOTFmO3g