Published on
August 24, 2025
Tourism revenues in Greece rose 11% in the first half of 2025 to 7.66 billion euros, provisional data published by the Bank of Greece showed. Although there was a slight boost in tourist visits, increased visitor spending in the country accounted for the major increase in tourism receipts. The increase in average expenditure per trip was the principal driver, which climbed 10.1% year-on-year, which counteracted the comparatively sluggish growth in the volume of visitors.
Greece’s Tourism Revenue Soars by 11% in the First Half of 2025
Tourism revenues in Greece surged by 11% in the first half of 2025, reaching 7.66 billion euros, according to provisional data released by the Bank of Greece. Despite a modest increase in tourist arrivals, the country’s higher visitor spending helped drive the significant rise in tourism receipts. The growth in average expenditure per trip was a key factor, rising by 10.1% year-on-year, which helped offset the relatively slow growth in the number of visitors.
The data highlights Greece’s strong tourism performance even with a 0.6% year-on-year increase in arrivals, bringing in a total of 11.69 million visitors between January and June 2025. The travel balance for the period showed a surplus of 5.99 billion euros, an increase from the 5.55 billion euros surplus reported in 2024, reflecting the overall strength of Greece’s tourism sector.
Travel Receipts and Trends in June 2025
In June 2025, travel receipts increased by 8.8% year-on-year, highlighting strong visitor spending despite a 1.7% decline in arrivals for the month. This trend aligns with earlier data from January to May, where tourism revenues rose to 4.35 billion euros, even as arrivals slowed. This demonstrates the growing trend of higher-value tourists spending more per trip, despite overall fluctuations in visitor numbers.
Revenue Breakdown by Source Markets
Revenue from EU-27 countries rose by 8.5% to 4.07 billion euros, while receipts from non-EU markets surged by 13.7%, reaching 3.21 billion euros. The Eurozone residents contributed 3.29 billion euros, a 7.7% increase, while revenues from EU countries outside the eurozone increased by 12.4% to 779.1 million euros.
Among the top source markets:
- Germany remained Greece’s largest market, with 1.37 billion euros in revenue, up 13.5%.
- The United Kingdom followed with 1.08 billion euros, a 7.3% increase.
- The United States saw a strong rise, with revenue up 29.4% to 704.3 million euros.
- Italy posted a 9% increase, generating 344.7 million euros.
- France, however, saw a more modest growth of 2.1%, reaching 455.9 million euros.
This increase in revenue from non-EU markets, particularly the United States, reflects the ongoing global interest in Greece as a tourism destination.
Visitor Arrivals and Trends: Shifts in Travel Preferences
Overall arrivals stood at 11.69 million for the first half of 2025, slightly up from 11.62 million in the same period of 2024. While air arrivals saw a 4.9% increase, arrivals by road dropped sharply by 13.1%. This shift indicates a growing preference for air travel among visitors, possibly due to flight availability and convenience.
Interestingly, visitors from EU countries accounted for 6.41 million arrivals, which marked a 6.3% decline. In contrast, visitors from non-EU markets increased by 10.5%, totaling 5.28 million. Notably, arrivals from Germany rose by 4.7%, from the United Kingdom by 11%, and from the United States by 20%. Conversely, arrivals from France dropped by 9.8%.
The Economic Impact of Tourism on Greece
The Bank of Greece highlighted the significant contribution of tourism to the national economy. Net receipts from travel services have offset 35.4% of the deficit in the country’s goods balance and contributed 81.6% of Greece’s total net receipts from services in the first half of 2025. This emphasizes the vital role of tourism revenue in supporting Greece’s overall economic performance.
Tourism has long been one of the key drivers of Greece’s economic growth, contributing directly to employment, infrastructure development, and local businesses across the country. The continued growth in tourism receipts, alongside a growing preference for Greece as a vacation spot, indicates strong prospects for economic stability and growth in the sector.
Greece’s Tourism Growth in 2025 and Beyond
Tourism revenues in Greece rose 11% in the first half of 2025 to 7.66 billion euros, provisional data published by the Bank of Greece showed. Although there was a slight boost in tourist visits, increased visitor spending in the country accounted for the major increase in tourism receipts. The increase in average expenditure per trip was the principal driver, which climbed 10.1% year-on-year, which counteracted the comparatively sluggish growth in the volume of visitors.
