Provisional data published by the Bank of Greece show that Greece received 28.5 million inbound travellers in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 10% compared with the same period in 2025. Travel receipts rose 9.4% to €18.2 billion, continuing the strong tourism performance recorded earlier in the year.
Growth driven by visitor numbers rather than higher spending
The figures indicate that the rise in income from tourism largely reflected an increase in visitor numbers rather than higher expenditure per trip. Average expenditure per journey over January–August was reported at €613.20, down 0.3% on the previous year. In August specifically, arrivals increased by 13.4% but average spending per trip fell 6.5% to €552.40, producing a more modest 6.5% rise in monthly receipts.
Road arrivals outpace airports
The Bank of Greece data highlight a notable modal shift: growth through land borders outpaced air travel. Road arrivals rose by 22.6% in January–August, while arrivals at airports increased by 5.7% over the same period. The gap widened in August when road traffic climbed 32.2% and airport arrivals rose 4.9%.
Most of the overall increase came from travellers within the European Union. Arrivals from the EU27 rose 11% to 16.97 million, while arrivals from non-EU countries were up 8.5% at 11.54 million.
Major source markets and receipts
The provisional figures provide detail on the principal source markets and the receipts they generated during the period:
- Germany: 4.21 million arrivals; receipts €2.86 billion
- United Kingdom: 3.40 million arrivals; receipts €2.67 billion
- Italy: 1.92 million arrivals; receipts €1.26 billion (strongest growth)
- France: 1.35 million arrivals; receipts €931.9 million (decline)
| Market | Arrivals (Jan–Aug) | Receipts |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 4.21 million | €2.86 billion |
| United Kingdom | 3.40 million | €2.67 billion |
| Italy | 1.92 million | €1.26 billion |
| France | 1.35 million | €931.9 million |
The data show divergent trends among markets: Italy produced the strongest growth in both arrivals and spending, while France recorded declines in both arrivals and receipts.
Overall, the Bank of Greece provisional statistics underline continued demand for travel to Greece in 2026, with growth concentrated in visitor numbers and a significant increase in arrivals via land borders compared with airport traffic.
