INSETE: Road Arrivals to Greece on Track for New Record in 2024

Road arrivals to Greece are on course for a new record this year, with figures for the January to August 2024 period showing significant growth.

According to the latest statistical bulletin from INSETE, the research institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), road arrivals have already reached 8.8 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2019, when the previous record of 8.6 million international road arrivals was set.

Eight-month record points to strong annual performance

In the first eight months of 2024, Greece recorded 8.8 million international road arrivals, compared to 7.7 million during the same period in 2023. This increase of 1.1 million arrivals represents a growth of 14 percent.

August continues to lead as peak month for road arrivals

Photo Source: Visit Greece

As expected, August, the height of the summer season, was the strongest month for road arrivals, with 2.5 million vehicles entering the country. This figure represents an increase of 315,000 compared to August 2023, marking a 14.5 percent rise.

International road arrivals had also shown steady growth in the months leading up to August. In January, 460,000 road arrivals were recorded, an increase of 11.3 percent compared to January 2023. February saw 359,000 arrivals (a 14.5 percent increase), and in March, 420,000 arrivals were recorded (+10.8 percent). May saw the largest surge, with 770,000 arrivals—220,000 more than in May 2023, a rise of 37.7 percent. June saw 1.5 million road arrivals (+14.5 percent), and July followed with 2.3 million (+13.9 percent). The only month to register a decrease was April, with 516,000 arrivals, an 8.5 percent decline compared to April 2023.

Most popular entry points and significant increases in traffic

The busiest entry points to Greece in 2024 were Promahonas on the Bulgarian border and Evzoni on the North Macedonian border, which saw 2.3 million and 1.9 million vehicle entries, respectively, since the beginning of the year.

However, the most remarkable percentage increase in arrivals was recorded at the Kyprinos checkpoint on the Greek-Turkish border, with 149,000 vehicle entries—98,000 more than during the first eight months of 2023—representing an extraordinary rise of 190.9 percent. Other notable increases were seen at Kastanies on the Greek-Turkish border (+55 percent), Nymfea on the Greek-Bulgarian border (+48.9 percent), and Kipi, another checkpoint from Turkey, which saw a rise of 28.1 percent.

Countries of origin

Bulgaria continued to lead as the top country of origin for road arrivals in the January-August 2024 period, with a total of 4 million entries—an increase of 602,000 (+17.8 percent). North Macedonia followed with 2.6 million arrivals, up by 216,000 (+9.2 percent). Albania saw 1.2 million arrivals, while entries from Turkey increased by 259,000 (+32.9 percent), bringing the total number of road arrivals from the country to 1 million.

Northern Greece welcomes majority of road arrivals

According to INSETE data, Northern Greece was a particularly popular destination for visitors arriving by road, especially during the summer months. Key tourist areas such as Halkidiki, Pieria, Thasos, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Komotini, and Xanthi attracted a large number of these travelers.

The surge in road traffic has led many tourism businesses and organizations to call on the Greek government to improve infrastructure at border crossings and to allocate additional staff, ensuring faster and more efficient entry for road travelers.