Greeks Traveling More Abroad But Still Less Than Pre-Covid

Photo source: Visit Greece

Greeks are traveling more internationally but still less than before 2019, found a report released this week by INSETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE) research body.

In 2023, Greeks accounted for 6.2 million outbound departures, 34.9 million overnight stays, and spent 2.4 billion euros on international trips, said INSETE.

According to the report, most Greeks preferred to visit the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands shifting from Balkan destinations popular in previous years.

The report goes on to add that compared to the slump in outbound travel in 2020 and 2021, for a second consecutive year demand is on an upward trend.

Compared to pre-Covid 2019, the number of departures was down by 21 percent in 2023 from 7.8 million to 6.2 million in 2023. Overnight stays were down by 22 percent over 2019 to 34.9 million from 44.9 million and travel receipts were down by 11 percent from 2.7 billion euros in 2019 to 2.4 billion euros in 2023.

Greeks spent 5.6 nights on average on their trips abroad in 2023 down from 5.7 in 2019, but average per capita spending increased by 12 percent to 393 euros from 350 euros in 2019.

Average spending per night increased by 14 percent from 61 euros in 2019 to 70 euros in 2023.

According to INSETE analysts, all indexes – average spending per capita, average room rate and average spending per night – were down by 35 percent, 20 percent and 19 percent respectively compared to respective inbound figures.