Greece Welcomes More than Thirty Million Foreign Visitors in this Year, Marking Four Percent Growth with its Increases from Germany, UK, and US; Tourism Receipts Up Nine Percent

Published on November 25, 2025

Greece remains resilient and attractive as a leading tourism destination. In the period from January to September 2025, the number of foreign visitors in Greece reached 31.6 million, up by 4% compared to the corresponding months of last year. According to provisional data from the Bank of Greece, this increase is indicative of good tourism performance with continuing strong demand from key international markets.

With Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States continuing to show significant increases in visitor arrivals, Greece is well-positioned to continue its momentum in tourism growth. The increase in foreign visitor traffic underlines the country’s increasing popularity across both Western European and long-haul markets.

Strong Visitor Traffic Across Major Markets, With Notable Gains from the US and Germany

Among the major markets driving this growth, Germany remains Greece’s largest source of visitors, posting 8.2% growth with 4.8 million visitors. The United Kingdom followed closely with 4 million arrivals, a 4.3% increase. Italy, a consistently strong market for Greece, also showed positive results, registering a 7.1% increase with 1.9 million visitors. Additionally, the United States demonstrated a strong upward trajectory with 1.2 million visitors, reflecting a 5.6% increase compared to last year.

This continued growth in European and North American markets reflects Greece’s ability to appeal to a broad range of travelers. The sustained demand from Germany and the UK emphasizes Greece’s importance as a key destination for both leisure and business tourism. Meanwhile, the increase in visitors from the United States highlights Greece’s rising popularity in long-haul travel, driven by its cultural attractions, beautiful landscapes, and strong connections to ancient history.

September Visitor Traffic Shows Resilience

The September tourism figures continued to demonstrate the strength of Greece’s tourism sector, with inbound travel increasing by 3.6% to 5.68 million visitors. The growth was reflected in both air arrivals, which increased by 5.1%, and road border crossings, which saw a rise of 1.9%. This underscores the resilience of the Greek tourism industry as the summer season began to taper off, maintaining a steady flow of visitors into the shoulder months.

The strong September figures highlight Greece’s ability to attract off-season tourists, who are often looking for more affordable travel options and a less crowded experience. As Greece increasingly becomes a year-round destination, tourism in the late summer and autumn months is likely to continue driving revenue and economic growth.

EU27 and Non-EU Markets Show Different Trends

During the first nine months of 2025, arrivals from EU27 countries reached 18.8 million, with a 0.8% increase. The growth was largely driven by strong performance from eurozone countries, which grew by 5.6%, indicating a sustained demand for Greek destinations from the Eurozone. On the other hand, EU countries outside the euro area saw a decline of 8.1%, continuing a trend observed throughout the year.

Non-EU markets experienced stronger growth, with arrivals increasing by 9.3%, totaling 12.7 million visitors. This growth was primarily driven by higher traffic from long-haul markets such as the United States, as well as Western European countries outside the Eurozone. The data underscores the growing diversification of Greece’s visitor profile, with significant demand from both traditional European markets and more distant regions.

September’s Mixed Trends: Eurozone Markets and Non-Euro EU Decline

In September, arrivals from eurozone countries increased by 14.1%, while arrivals from non-euro EU markets saw a sharp decline of 12.6%. This shift reflects a more significant trend in Greece’s tourism demand, where countries within the Eurozone—particularly Germany, Italy, and France—are contributing to a more stable, sustained flow of visitors. Conversely, the decline in non-euro EU countries points to the challenges of attracting travelers from regions with less strong connectivity or economic stability.

These trends are important for Greece’s tourism strategy as they indicate that demand from eurozone countries remains the most reliable source of tourism revenue. However, the decline in non-euro EU markets suggests a need for targeted marketing and strategic partnerships to boost tourism from regions like Eastern Europe and other parts of the EU that face economic or travel restrictions.

Tourism Receipts Rise, But September Revenue Softens

For the first nine months of 2025, tourism receipts increased by 9%, reaching a total of 20.13 billion euros, driven by the higher number of visitors and their growing spending in Greece. However, September saw a slight softening in average visitor spending, which resulted in lower-than-expected revenue for the month.

Despite this, the overall rise in tourism receipts reflects the positive economic impact of the country’s growing tourism sector. Visitor spending continues to be a key driver of economic growth, supporting not only the hospitality industry but also a range of local businesses such as restaurants, transportation services, and retail outlets.

Minister Olga Kefalogianni’s Reflection on Greece’s Tourism Impact

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni expressed confidence in the sector’s ongoing performance, stating that tourism’s impact continues to support the Greek economy and society. She emphasized that quality tourism is creating better job opportunities, supporting balanced destination development, and ensuring a more equitable distribution of benefits across local communities.

Her statement reinforced the positive socio-economic impact of tourism in Greece, where strategic planning and cooperation are key to building a resilient, sustainable tourism model that benefits all stakeholders, from local businesses to tourism workers and regional economies.

A Bright Future for Greek Tourism: Strategic Growth and Sustainable Development

With strong tourism performance in 2025 and the projected growth in the coming years, long-term success is within sight for Greece’s tourism sector. As tourist arrivals rise and visitor spending remains robust, Greece’s strategic investments in tourism infrastructure, marketing, and cultural preservation will keep it among the top-tier destinations of choice for global travelers.

In the future, Greece’s tourism industry will continue to work on promoting the country’s global position by achieving a balance between quality tourism and sustainable growth. Accordingly, growing visitor numbers and higher tourism receipts will continue to spur economic growth and create new opportunities, thus fostering job creation and supporting the development of local communities throughout the country.