Greece tourism sees 10% arrival increase and €18.2bn revenue in eight months

Greece's tourism sector demonstrated strong growth during the first eight months of 2026, with foreign arrivals increasing by 10% to reach 28.5 million visitors. Total travel receipts for this period rose 9.4% to €18.2 billion, according to data from the Bank of Greece.

In August 2026, arrivals grew by 13.4% and receipts increased by 6.5% to €4.87 billion. However, the average spending per trip declined by 6.5% during August, a trend attributed to a rise in last-minute bookings and cost-of-living pressures affecting visitor budgets.

Market performance varied by region. The United States showed significant growth, with August receipts increasing by 52.3%. Within the European Union, receipts rose 19.2% in August, driven largely by the eurozone. Conversely, the United Kingdom saw a decline in August receipts, though overall eight-month figures remained positive.