Greece achieves record inbound travel and receipts in 2026
Alexandra
Inbound travel rose 5.6% in 2025, reaching 37.98 million visitors and generating travel receipts of €23.6 billion, while EU arrivals climbed 2.8% and non‑EU arrivals increased 10%. The provisional totals exclude cruise ship traffic; simultaneous air traffic control interruptions at Athens International Airport exposed critical vulnerabilities, prompting a planned €300 million infrastructure upgrade.
Record numbers and economic impact
Official national data show 2025 as a peak year for Greece’s tourism sector. The Bank of Greece reported inbound travel of 37.98 million travellers, up from 35.95 million in 2024, and travel receipts increasing to €23.6 billion from €21.6 billion the previous year. Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni described 2025 as the “best year of all time” for the sector. Early indicators also point to a positive start for 2026.
Breakdown highlights:
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- EU visitors: +2.8%
- Non‑EU visitors: +10%
- Receipts: +≈9% year‑on‑year
- Cruise traffic: excluded from provisional totals
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 (provisional) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inbound travellers (million) | 35.95 | 37.98 | +5.6% |
| Travel receipts (€ billion) | 21.6 | 23.6 | +9.3% |
| EU arrivals | — | — | +2.8% |
| Non‑EU arrivals | — | — | +10% |
Operational disruptions and infrastructure response
Despite strong macro results, the sector experienced notable operational problems. A January communications blackout in Athens airspace — caused by continuous radio frequency “noise” — forced hundreds of flights to divert to neighbouring countries and disrupted thousands of travellers. A subsequent backup radar failure on February 19, following a similar August incident, reinforced concerns about ageing systems.
Official diagnostics attributed the initial outage to obsolete technology. Authorities have already initiated a €300 million upgrade programme focused on air traffic control modernisation, redundancy for radar and communications systems, and contingency routing to reduce diversion impacts during future failures.
Immediate logistical implications
- Increased need for redundant navigation and communication links between airports and neighboring FIRs.
- Greater demand for surge capacity in ground handling and accommodation when diversions occur.
- Short‑term reputational risks affecting late bookings and last‑minute charter demand.
Regional positioning and comparative standing in the EU
Greece is now among the top five most visited EU countries, behind France, Spain and Italy, and roughly on par with Germany. The weight of island and coastal tourism — concentrated in the Aegean and Ionian seas, the Peloponnese and major urban hubs like Athens and Thessaloniki — underscores the maritime dimension of the nation’s tourism ecosystem.
Key sector dynamics include seasonal concentration around summer months, elevated spend per visitor for certain high‑end destinations, and strong growth in long‑haul non‑EU markets. Cruise activity, though excluded from the provisional totals, remains an important component for port cities and island gateways, where passenger throughput influences port fee income, excursion sales and local supply chains.
Historical context: how 2025 fits into the longer trend
Greece’s tourism expansion over the past decade reflects a recovery and growth trajectory following the financial crisis and pandemic downturn. From the mid‑2010s, strategic investments in airport modernisation, airline connectivity, low‑cost carrier routes, and destination marketing contributed to steadily rising arrivals. The post‑pandemic years accelerated demand as global travel rebounded, with 2023 and 2024 already showing strong increases before the record 2025 outcome.
Historically, Greece’s comparative advantage has been its island network, diverse coastlines, cultural heritage sites and established marinas—assets that sustained a robust cruising and yachting market even when mass tourism patterns fluctuated. The 2025 figures represent not only volume growth but higher per‑visitor receipts, signaling an upward move in value capture across accommodation, transport, F&B and recreational activity sectors.
Lessons from past cycles
- Investment in resilient transport infrastructure is as critical as marketing.
- Diversifying seasonality through off‑peak events and watersports reduces concentration risk.
- Integration of port and airport planning enhances the overall visitor experience.
Implications for sailing, charters and marine services
The 2025 surge has direct implications for the maritime leisure economy. Higher arrivals and stronger receipts typically increase demand for yacht charters, boat rentals, marina berthing, and related services such as provisioning, local captains and maintenance. Island hubs and gulf marinas will likely see pressure on mooring availability, necessitating improved berth reservations, transient docking policies and enhancement of shore facilities.
Operational hiccups at airports can also shift traveler behavior toward longer stays and more localised travel patterns, potentially boosting demand for multi‑day charters, skipper services and guided boating activities. Cruise exclusions from provisional data suggest an area for coordination: port authorities and marina operators can capitalise on transfer passengers seeking short yacht excursions, fishing trips or island hopping packages.
| Marine segment | Short‑term effect | Medium‑term action |
|---|---|---|
| Yacht charter | Increased bookings, peak period congestion | Expand fleet, dynamic pricing, seasonal spread |
| Marinas | Berth shortages, service bottlenecks | Upgrade facilities, digital booking, temporary pontoons |
| Local boat rental | Higher demand for day rentals and fishing trips | Staff training, certification, safety briefings |
Recommendations for operators
- Coordinate with airports and ports for contingency passenger transfers to marinas.
- Invest in online and mobile booking systems to manage peak demand.
- Offer bundled experiences (beach transfers, guided sailing, fishing) to capture higher per‑visitor spend.
- Enhance crew and captain availability through flexible staffing and cross‑training.
In summary, Greece’s record 2025 performance reflects robust recovery and value growth in tourism, driven by both EU and non‑EU demand. Operational disruptions at key transport nodes highlighted the need for infrastructure modernisation and contingency planning. Historically, Greece’s marine assets have buffered cycles and will be central to translating arrival growth into sustained revenue through yacht and boat charters, marinas, and experiential activities.
For travellers and operators focused on the sea, the outlook points to busy marinas, active yachting seasons and greater competition for berths and charter bookings. To navigate the evolving market effectively, stakeholders should prioritise resilience, digital booking, and expanded service offerings that meet demand from beachgoers, anglers, and sailing enthusiasts alike.
GetBoat — an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts — is probably the best service for boat rentals to suit every taste and budget. For anyone planning a yacht or boat charter in Greek waters, seeking a captain, or wanting to rent a vessel for island hopping and beach activities, GetBoat.com is a practical resource to compare options, manage bookings and discover destinations from small fishing coves to superyacht marinas in clearwater bays and open ocean gulfs.
