Greeks Head to Italy, Germany and France When Traveling Abroad – Study

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Italy, Germany and France are the top three destinations for Greeks traveling abroad, and they do so for two main reasons: entertainment and to see relatives or friends.

Preferring the Regions of Attica, Central Greece and Evia, Macedonia and the Peloponnese when traveling within their home country, Greeks say they travel for two main reasons: on one hand food and drink and on the other, relaxation.

Where and for what reason?

Those where the two basic questions of a survey, published in late June, concerning Greek travelers. It was based on data collected for the 12-month period from June 2022 to July 2023, by Focus Bari, on behalf of INSETE, the research body of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

The study was based on the survey of information from more than 35,000 people, all residing in Greece.

Greeks say they travel mostly for entertainment, also to see friends and relatives

According to the survey, the main reason Greeks travel either abroad or within their national borders is for entertainment to a level of about 60 percent, followed by the intention to visit friends and relatives according to 18 percent of those surveyed.

Only 14 percent of the sample answered that they would travel abroad for business, including professional conferences with only 11 percent saying they do so within Greece.

Despite entertainment being the main reason for Greeks traveling, their destinations differ greatly when it comes to trips abroad or in the country. Specifically, when traveling abroad they head for city trips or city breaks according to 50 percent of those asked.

On the contrary, 45 percent said that when they travel in Greece they do so to get to the seashore or to the beach. Touring is the second most important reason for Greeks to embark on a trip either abroad or in the country, with 32 percent of those asked saying so.

Italy, Germany, France top choices, Egypt and Russia are not

Photo source: WTTC

When traveling abroad, Greeks head mostly to Italy according to 17 percent of those surveyed, to Germany with 11 percent and to France with 9 percent. Bulgaria follows with 8 percent saying it is their destination of choice, and then with a 7 percent preference each, there come Turkey, Cyprus and the United Kingdom.

Spain attracts 6 percent of Greeks traveling abroad, with Holland and Austria following with 5 percent and Poland with another 3 percent. The United States and Czech Republic attract just about 2 percent of visitors each, with Egypt and Russia being the least popular destinations for Greeks, since only 1 percent of those participating in the survey said that each one of them would be their destination.

Food and drink, relaxation, tourist sites and museums, top incentives for Greeks

Photo source: Athens Attica

In their country, Greeks prefer to travel to the Regions of Attica and Central Greece- Evia by 21 percent, to the Region of Macedonia by 19 percent and to the Peloponnese by 14 percent, all areas being on the mainland and thus accessible by car. Their most popular activity when traveling in Greece is to seek food and drink by 64 percent as they stated, and secondly relaxation, 62 percent of those asked, said.

With quite a great difference, 36 percent of Greeks say that they travel in their country to enjoy nature and the natural environment and  25 percent to swim and sunbathe.

On the contrary and with the exemption of food and drink, a purpose for which 57 percent of those asked answered they would travel abroad for, Greeks say that in their favored activities when leaving their country is to visit tourist sites by 61 percent, to go to museums and exhibits by 45 percent, to go shopping by 37 percent and to enjoy the ambiance of the city by 35 percent.

Greeks say “Yes” to road trips in Greece

Photo Source: Visit Greece

When traveling in Greece, Greeks prefer road trips by 74 percent, with a whopping 80 percent of those trips being made by car, 14 percent by bus and only 3 percent by rail.

In Greece, 16 percent of travelers prefer ships and just 1 percent will choose to fly. On the opposite, when traveling abroad 71 percent do so by airplane, 23 percent prefer road trips and only 5 percent will travel by ship.

The internet and hotels…means of choice for Greeks

The internet is the most important means to get information and to plan for their trips, Greeks say, with 65 percent using it when preparing to travel abroad and 57 percent who travel in the country. Friends and relatives come second as sources of information, with 31 percent traveling abroad saying they got information from them and according 36 percent of those traveling in the country also doing so.

Travel agencies played an important role when it came to Greeks going abroad, with 17 percent saying they were in contact with such professionals, with only 8 percent however turning to the same source when traveling in the country.

Finally, Greeks continue to prefer hotels when traveling either abroad or within Greece, with 64 and 52 percent accordingly they stated. Short term rentals are preferred by 22 percent of those asked when traveling in the country and by 16 percent when traveling abroad.