Greek tourism records gains driven by foreign visitors in July

Greek tourism records gains driven by foreign visitors in July
Arrivals rose 2.5pc with overnight stays up 2pc
Foreign visitors accounted for more than 80pc of arrivals
International arrivals reached 20.43m from January to July
Tourism revenue reached record €13.5bn

Greece has recorded notable growth in July 2026 overwhelmingly propelled by international travellers. According to provisional data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority total tourist arrivals in hotels, campsites and short-stay rentals climbed to 6.61m while overnight stays reached 31.70m marking a 2.5pc and 2.0pc increase respectively compared to July 2025. The figures highlight a sharp divergence between domestic vacationers and international visitors demonstrating how heavily the Greek hospitality sector relies on foreign demand.

Foreign tourists accounted for roughly four out of every five arrivals and nearly nine out of ten overnight stays. Foreign visitors dominated hotel-type accommodations making up 81.1pc of arrivals and 89.3pc of overnight stays. Short-stay holiday rentals saw a similar distribution with foreigners commanding 85.6pc of total nights. Data from the Bank of Greece noted that the average expenditure per trip for international travellers rose by 10pc in July.

From January to July 2026 total international arrivals scaled to 20.43m an 8.6pc cumulative bump pulling in a record-breaking €13.5bn in tourism revenue. Inbound travel receipts were heavily supported by visitors from Germany alongside rapid spending growth from England and Italy.