Greece Sees Historic Rise in French Tourist Arrivals in 2024, Says Minister

For the first time in history, the number of French tourists visiting Greece is expected to reach 2 million in 2024, according to Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

Speaking to French media, Kefalogianni cited official data from the Bank of Greece and emphasized the importance of the French market for Greek tourism. She also discussed Greece’s record-breaking year for international visitor arrivals and travel receipts.

Kefalogianni is currently visiting Paris to promote Greece as a leading travel destination and strengthen tourism flows from France, one of Greece’s key markets.

During her visit, the minister spoke with various French media outlets, including Le Figaro, LaQuotidienne.fr, and L’Echo Touristique. She outlined the ministry’s strategic objectives for the future of Greek tourism and emphasized efforts to attract more visitors from France.

Greece’s tourism strategy for growth and sustainability

Kefalogianni highlighted the Greek Ministry of Tourism’s strategy, which focuses on promoting new destinations and diversifying tourism offerings to extend the season. This approach aims to inform international markets about Greece’s expanding range of tourism products, fostering sustainable and high-quality development.

The minister also discussed recent regulatory changes, including new specifications for short-term rental properties and the environmental classification of hotels. Additionally, she touched on the Greek government’s legislative framework for marinas, which is designed to enhance Greece’s appeal as a maritime tourism destination.

Targeting new markets and addressing visitor overcrowding

Kefalogianni introduced Greece’s new target markets, including India, China, and Saudi Arabia. She also outlined the introduction of a new cruise passenger levy and a berth allocation system to manage visitor numbers and alleviate congestion at popular destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos. These initiatives aim to ensure a more balanced and sustainable tourism flow.

The minister reassured French audiences that the Greek government is committed to improving the visitor experience in Greece, emphasizing safety and infrastructure upgrades to create a “unique, authentic, and incomparable” experience for tourists.

During her time in Paris, Minister Kefalogianni will participate as a speaker at the Delphi Paris Forum II at the Cercle de l’Union Interalliée. She will also attend a special event at UNESCO House titled “Culture and Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Additionally, Kefalogianni has scheduled meetings with representatives from French tourism organizations and will visit the French branch of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) to discuss strategies and priorities for promoting Greece in the French market.