Tourism in Thessaloniki Enjoys Increase in Overnights but Revenue is Weak

Photo source: Visit Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, saw double digit growth in overnight stays by 16.75 percent last year compared to 2013, the Thessaloniki Hotels Association revealed on Friday.

During the January-December 2014 period, hotels in Thessaloniki recorded over two million overnights compared to some 1.7 million in 2013. The number of recorded nights spent by foreign tourists at Thessaloniki accommodation establishments increased by 21.14 percent to 982.350 (compared to 810,936 in 2013). Overnight stays by Greeks at hotels increased by 13.01 percent to 1,076,558 overnight stays (compared to 952,599 in 2013).

On the other hand, hotel revenue remained low in Thessaloniki last year, as the average room rate showed a marginal increase (1.6 percent), placing the Greek city behind Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Cologne, Salzburg, Glasgow, Antwerp, Birmingham and Budapest.

In 2014, Thessaloniki also lagged in revenue per available room (42.41 euros) compared to Edinburgh (87.04 euros), Hamburg (83.85 euros), Düsseldorf (76.04 euros), Manchester ( 68.84), Salzburg (67.56) and Budapest (46,66 euros).

In regards to Thessaloniki’s most visiting nationalities in 2014, the Greeks were in the lead with over one million overnights. Next were Cypriots with 107.434 overnights, an impressive 41.31 percent increase compared to 2013. Visitors from Turkey came in second with a total of 75.223 overnights and Russian tourists were third in the ranks with 72.763 overnights, a 19.22 percent drop compared to 2013. Tourists from the United States ranked fourth with 62.668 overnights followed by the Germans with 56.920 overnight stays.

Top Nationalities of Foreign Travelers to Thessaloniki

1. Cyprus – 107,434 overnights (41.31 percent increase from 2013)
2. Turkey – 75,223 overnights (5.3 percent increase)
3. Russia – 72,763 overnights (19.22 percent decrease from 2013)
4. USA – 62,668 overnights (41.4 percent increase)
5. Germany – 56,920 overnights (38.76 percent increase)
6. Serbia & Montenegro  – 55,350 overnights (43.5 percent increase)
7. Romania – 51,856 overnights (28.06 percent increase)
8. Italy – 51,433 overnights (16.67 percent increase)
9. Bulgaria – 50,031 overnights (22.41 percent increase)
10. Israel – 42,665 overnights (-11.99 percent decrease from 2013)