German tourists conquer Greece: record numbers in 2022!

German tourists conquer Greece: record numbers in 2022!

Greece continues to attract millions of tourists, recording a record number of around 36 million visitors in 2022. As the South Germans reported that 5.7 million German tourists alone traveled to the sun-drenched country, which corresponds to an increase of almost 13 percent compared to the previous year. This makes Germans the largest group of visitors to Greece, followed by 4.7 million Brits and almost 3 million Bulgarian tourists.

This great demand is also reflected in the number of overnight stays, which amounted to around 230 million. The tourism sector achieved a turnover of over 20 billion euros. The average length of stay for tourists is six nights and they spend an average of 523 euros per stay. For specific regions such as Crete the cost can average around 770 euros per visit, while in less touristy areas such as Epirus only around 192 euros are spent.

Popularity and attractions

The northern Aegean, particularly the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos, saw an impressive 40 percent increase in visitor numbers. This highlights how the appeal of Greece's diverse landscape, rich history and numerous monuments from ancient times contributes to making Greece one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe.

Greece has also attracted international attention. According to an analysis by Euromonitor, three Greek cities occupy places in the top 100 most popular travel destinations worldwide; Athens will reach 32nd place in 2024. This shows the continued interest in Greek cities that offer many historical archaeological sites and museums, such as Athens and Thessaloniki.

The economic importance of tourism

The tourism sector is estimated to contribute almost 30 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. This includes direct and indirect effects. The development of tourism in Greece from 1995 to 2022 shows a continuous increase in the number of tourists. While revenue before the corona pandemic in 2019 was 20.55 billion euros (11.1% of GDP), in 2020 due to the pandemic it collapsed to 5.42 billion euros, a decrease of 74 percent.

The average expenditure per tourist was 619 euros in 2022. For comparison: residents of Greece spend around 663 euros a year when they vacation abroad. This spending is an essential part of the Greek economy, as many locals run restaurants in addition to their agricultural activities.

Trend towards individual travel

A notable development is the increasing boom in individual tourism. More and more tourists are traveling by car or motorhome and visiting remote areas, which also benefits the regional economy. This form of travel not only promotes more flexible vacation planning, but also brings additional income to less frequented regions of Greece.

Overall, Greece remains an attractive travel destination, attracting holidaymakers from all over the world with its hot summer climate, beautiful beaches and historical sites. The arrival of new visitors from China and the US suggests that the country's tourism boom will continue into the future. The holiday season in Greece starts earlier and ends later than in most other European countries, giving the country additional advantages in the tourism industry.