Greeks Traveling and Spending More, Says ELSTAT Survey

Residents of Greece spent over 2 billion euros on trips, up by 19.9%, in 2018

Residents of Greece last year traveled more and spent more during their trips, data of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) revealed on Friday.

According to ELSTAT’s Qualitative Characteristics of Resident Tourists for 2018 survey, a total of 4.8 million of Greece’s residents, of all ages, made 7.9 million trips, up 7.6 percent and 6 percent respectively, compared to 2017. Out of these trips 87.4 percent were domestic (down from 89.5 percent in 2017) and 12.6 percent were outbound trips, up from 10.5 percent. The top five foreign destinations visited by residents of Greece were Albania, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria and Germany.

The total number of overnight stays spent by residents of Greece amounted to 79.1 million and the relevant expenditure to 2.49 billion euros, recording respectively increases of 10.4 percent and 19.9 percent, compared to 2017.

Residents of Greece in 2018 mainly traveled for personal reasons – 96.2 percent.

Choice of accommodation when holidaying in Greece

More into the survey, when holidaying within Greece, 60.9 percent of travelers on personal trips preferred non-rented accommodation (own holiday homes, staying with relatives and friends). Personal trips spent in non-rented accommodation accounted for 78.9 percent of the total nights spent.

Trips spent in an own holiday home recorded an increase of 6.8 percent in 2018, compared to 2017, while the corresponding nights spent recorded an increase of 19.4 percent.

Personal trips and nights spent of residents aged 15 and over by type of accommodation, 2018. Source: ELSTAT

The main type of accommodation for personal trips spent in rented accommodation establishments (39.1 percent of personal trips) was hotels and similar establishments, representing 64.7 percent of such trips. Personal trips spent in rented accommodation accounted for 21.1 percent of the total nights spent.