Greece records strong tourism surge in first four months of 2026

Greece’s tourism sector posted a robust rebound in January‑April 2026, with travel receipts climbing 36.9% to €2.79 billion and inbound arrivals rising 27.1% to 5.24 million. Overland arrivals jumped 67.8% and air traffic grew 12.8%, while average spend per trip increased 8.6% year‑on‑year. EU visitor spending rose 38.7% to €1.37 billion, closely matched by non‑EU earnings at 37.5%.

Key source markets showed mixed trends: Italy’s visitor numbers rose 21.6% and spending surged 57.5%; the United Kingdom saw a 51% jump in arrivals and a 106.9% increase in receipts, making it a critical market. German arrivals grew 12.4% but total spending fell 10.5%, reflecting weaker consumer confidence. U.S. arrivals slipped 3.4% with a slight dip in per‑tourist spend.

Bank of Greece data for April alone indicated 1.84 million visitors, a 10.6% rise on the previous year, and travel revenues up 9.5% to just over €1.1 billion, though average spend per tourist fell 1% to €575. Overall, the first quarter showed a 27.1% rise in arrivals and a 36.9% boost in tourism revenue, underscoring the sector’s pivotal role in the Greek economy.