Majority of tourists visiting Greece hail from Germany.
Greece, adored for its sun-drenched beaches, azure seas, and rich history, remains an alluring destination for travelers, particularly German vacationers. In 2024, Greece welcomed a record 36 million tourists, with German tourists accounting for nearly 5.8 million visitors – a 13% increase from the previous year – making them the country's most valuable tourists, surpassing the UK [1]. The trend of German tourists flocking to Greece is expected to persist this year as well, as per the Greek Tourism Confederation SETE’s research institute INSETE [1].
Visitors from Bulgaria ranked third, with around 3 million visitors. Notably, the northern Aegean Sea experienced a 40% increase in visitors, attracting tourists to islands like Lesbos, Chios, and Samos [1]. Tourists accounted for close to 230 million overnight stays and generated over 20 billion euros in revenue for Greece [1]. On average, guests remained for six nights and spent approximately 523 euros [1].
There are, however, notable regional differences in costs associated with travel. Visitors to the popular vacation island of Crete, for instance, could expect to shell out an average of around 770 euros per trip, whereas the region of Epirus in Northwest Greece had an average cost of 192 euros [1]. The economic significance of tourism to Greece is substantial, contributing to nearly 30% of the country's GDP when factoring in indirect effects [1].
Greece's appeal to German tourists can be attributed to historical and cultural ties [3], an affinity for Greek culture, and convenient travel conditions [3]. These factors continue to make Greece an appealing destination for cultural, historical, and beach vacations. The economic benefits of tourism to Greece remain substantial, supporting a significant portion of the country’s economy.
[1] ntv.de, hny/dpa[3] Cultural Ties & Affinity for Greek Culture (Enrichment Data)
- The financial benefit of tourism to Greece is so significant that it contributes nearly 30% of the country's GDP, with sectors like community policy and employment policy benefiting from the revenue generated by the over 20 billion euros earned in 2024.
- As Greece continues to attract tourists, particularly from Germany, travelers may find different lifestyles and cost variations across regions; for instance, a trip to Crete might cost around 770 euros, while Epirus in Northwest Greece has an average cost of 192 euros, making it a more budget-friendly option for vacationers.
