In a remarkable rebound, Greece’s tourism sector is witnessing a surge in travel activity, with early indicators pointing to a robust Easter holiday season.
Airline bookings from AEGEAN’s hub in Athens are soaring, with flights until Holy Saturday boasting over 80% occupancy, and return journeys already exceeding 90%, according to industry officials.
They say the uptick does not reflect a “fleeting trend” but a sign of Greece’s enduring allure as a top holiday destination.
The numbers are telling: from the bustling ports to the crowded toll stations, Greece is experiencing a wave of domestic and international visitors. The top domestic destinations from Athens include idyllic locales such as Corfu, Ikaria, and Zakynthos, while Thessaloniki’s flights to Kos, Samos, and Mytilene are at near capacity.
This surge is part of a broader narrative of growth for the Greek tourism industry.
Despite missing the ambitious target of 22 or 23 billion euros, the sector has seen a significant increase in travel receipts, totaling 19.746 billion euros in 2023. That marks a 14.4 percent rise from the previous year. Regions like Crete and Attica have led the charge, with increases of 41.9 percent and 32.9 percent, respectively.
As Greece gears up for the summer season, the planning of airline seats has already shown an 8.6 percent increase over the previous year, setting a positive trajectory for 2024.