Greece tourism revenues jump 25% in first five months of 2026

Tourist arrivals in Greece rose 20.9% in the January‑May 2026 period, reaching 8.6 million visitors, while tourism receipts increased 25.8% to €5.32 billion. The average spend per traveller rose to about €595, driven by strong demand from the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States and other key markets.

The surge lifted the tourism services surplus to €3.8 billion, offsetting part of the current‑account deficit, which nevertheless widened to €8.9 billion as other components of the balance weakened. Analysts note that the season features a high share of last‑minute bookings and a continued extension of the tourism season beyond the traditional summer months.

Overall, the data show a robust start to the 2026 tourism year for Greece, with record revenues and visitor numbers, but also underscore the need for broader economic improvements to close the overall current‑account gap.