In the first half of this year, Greece was visited by over 7.5 million tourists, an increase of 20.8% compared to the same period in 2014, according to data published by the Central Bank of Greece, citing a report from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT.
Arrivals from Europe, which represent the majority of foreign visitors to Greece, specifically 86.1%, recorded an advance of 21.8% in the first six months of 2015.
Among European states, significant increases were recorded for tourists from Bulgaria – 149.5%, Germany – 23.5%, the United Kingdom – 18%, Italy – 64.6%, Romania – 62.3%, and Poland, while the number of tourists from Russia decreased by over 60%.
From outside Europe, important increases in the number of foreign visitors came from the USA – 41.6% and Turkey – 21%.
In 2014, Greece reported a current account surplus of EUR 1.66 billion, up from EUR 1.09 billion in 2013, due to tourism revenues, which grew in 2014 by 10.6% to a record level of EUR 13.44 billion.
In 2014, foreign visitor arrivals in Greece increased by 23%, reaching a record level of 22 million.
Source: Capital
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did tourism grow in Greece in the first half of 2015?
Foreign tourist arrivals in Greece increased by 20.8% in the first half of 2015, reaching over 7.5 million visitors.
Which European countries showed the highest increase in visitors to Greece?
Bulgaria saw the highest growth at 149.5%, followed by Italy at 64.6% and Romania at 62.3%.
What was Greece’s record for tourism revenue in 2014?
In 2014, Greece’s tourism revenue reached a record level of 13.44 billion EUR, contributing to a current account surplus.