Friday, July 25, 2025
Greece is well and truly on the radar for the long-haul holiday market, as India had the biggest increase in travel reservation intention, a recent study released on Tuesday by INSETE, the tourism and development agency of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), showed. The results indicate a hopeful diversification of Greece’s tourism reach well beyond Europe; especially in case of America, Canada, Australia and India.
Indian Interest in Travel Rises to Global High
According to a wide-ranging global study by GlobalWebIndex (GWI), which surveyed 12,767 internet users aged 16-64 who were planning to take an international holiday in the next 12 months, of the five non-European nations included it was India that led the world for intent to travel abroad. A whopping 72.4% of Indian travellers expressed intent to travel abroad in the next 12 months– the highest among all markets. This rising optimism makes India a key market for Greece’s long-haul tourism strategy.
Greece is at 26th position on the list of favorite holiday destinations for Indian travelers, a rise of 13 places from last year. This proliferation moves Greece above such popular destinations as China, which comes 31st. Quattro is fascinated by the fact the Angama Mara has struck a chord with Indian travellers even though it is not a sun-and-sea destination like Greece – something that confirms that the destination is not limited to specific markets and travellers, but rather holds immense potential for diverse audience involving the TOE and the TOM visitor segments, as indicated by INSETE studies.
A Greater Presence in the US, Canada and Australia
Outside India, Greece remains well-established and competitive in developed outbound tourism markets such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Greece ranks a popular destination 13th in the U.S., 11th in both Canadian and Australian travellers. Behind the undisputed European big three – France, Italy and Spain – who take the top three places respectively, Greece is itself emerging as a preferred long-haul destination for tourists in the know.
“; Greece sets itself apart the fact that it’s still able to attract travellers who are willing to pay the same if not more for a holiday based on any economic fears such as inflation. This indicates continued demand for Greece with a premium value.
Spending More and Staying Longer: That’s the Trend Now
A key trend identified through this survey is the increased demand for medium to long-term holidays, especially from across markets like India, the US and Australia. Greece is reaping the rewards of this shift, with visitors from these nations choosing to stay between five to seven days or even longer in a move that encourages more cultural interaction and leads to greater economic benefit for the country’s tourism sector.
Indian tourists are especially notorious for this. A healthy 13.8% of Indians want to take five or more international holidays in the next 12 months — the highest desired travel frequency in all the markets covered. Another 38.9% of Indians were open to splurging beyond €47 per night for stay, giving an insight into early planning and premium offerings.
Hotel Preferences and Motivational Insights
Hotels are still the popular choice for accommodation options with other preferences in mind, especially for Australians (73.5%) and Indians (66.5%). This is followed by an interest in staying with friends or family, or in vacation rentals — a combination that allows Greece to benefit from both the mainstream and the alternate forms of accommodations.
Analyzing reasons for travel, fun and relaxation was the main motivator for travel in every country studied. But Indian and Chinese tourists have been increasingly keen on nature and cultural discovery – other areas where Greece’s tourism inventory of pristine beaches, rugged mountain scenery, historical sites and archaeological treasures coincide. Chinese travelers, however, cultural exploration was their top motivation — and an opportunity for Greece then to develop its storytelling and heritage-based product offering that would better serve this segment.
Strategic Takeaway for Greek Tourism
Those numbers kept on coming: This week the number of arrivals at Greek airports increased even more — a striking reversal for a country whose economy was largely dependent on tourism, one that hit rocker bottom when flights stopped after the country’s nationwide lockdown was declared in late February.Of course, the latest data is no surprise: Greece is being increasingly identified today as a tourist destination, not only for its traditional European audience, but for new long haul markets led by India, which now have both the will and the means to travel to destinations with frequent and high added-value.”
With long-haul travelers increasingly seeking longer durations, premium spend and nature-immersion cultural experiences, Greece is set to make the most of this trend with ample year-round options. On sun-drenched islands, in windswept mountains, amid preserved ruins and along beaches that rave reviewers have enjoyed in private for decades, Greece has the resources — and now the audience — to forge ahead into a new era of worldwide tourism leadership.
