Tourism is recording impressive growth at the start of 2026, with data from the Bank of Greece showing that travel receipts exceeded €1 billion already in the first two months of the year. This development confirms the sector’s dynamism, which continues to be one of the main pillars of the Greek economy, even during periods traditionally not considered peak tourist activity. This increase is accompanied by significant growth in tourist arrivals, showing that Greece maintains its position as a strong destination for visitors from Europe and other countries.
According to official data, travel receipts in January-February 2026 reached €1.006 billion, showing an increase of 70.7% compared to the same period in 2025. This percentage is considered particularly high and reflects the significant boost in tourist flows, even outside the traditional summer season. The increase doesn’t concern only a specific market segment, but stems from the overall rise in both European and international visits.
Tourism: What drives the explosive revenue growth
The revenue increase comes from two main sources: visitors from European Union countries and those from other countries. Receipts from EU-27 residents increased by 74.3% to €477.5 million, while receipts from residents of other countries recorded a 70.0% increase, reaching €516.3 million. Specifically, receipts from eurozone countries amounted to €407.9 million, showing a 68.6% increase, while receipts from EU-27 countries outside the eurozone also recorded significant growth at €69.5 million. This data shows that the increase is widespread and not limited to specific markets, strengthening the stability of tourist flows.
Despite the overall growth, there are variations between individual markets. Receipts from Germany decreased by 0.8% to €66.6 million, while receipts from France increased by 76.8% to €29.4 million. Similarly, receipts from Italy recorded a 41.5% increase to €55.6 million. From countries outside the European Union, receipts from the United Kingdom increased significantly to €173.4 million, while receipts from the United States showed a 13.3% decrease to €92.5 million. This data shows that tourism activity is affected by many factors and that performance varies by market.
Tourism: Significant increase in travel movement
Alongside revenues, incoming travel movement also increased. Specifically, a 38.5% rise was recorded, with the number of travelers reaching 2.12 million, compared to 1.5 million in the corresponding period of 2025. This increase reflects tourism’s overall dynamism and confirms that Greece continues to attract large numbers of visitors. Travel movement through airports increased by 19.0%, while the increase through road border stations was even greater at 83.9%. This element shows the importance of road travel, particularly for neighboring countries, and highlights the diversification of access methods to the country.
Travel movement from EU-27 countries reached 1.1 million travelers, showing a 49.1% increase, while from other countries it increased by 28.6% to 1.023 million travelers. Specifically, movement from eurozone countries increased by 37.3%, while from EU-27 countries outside the euro by 129.5%. By country, travel movement from Germany increased by 8.2% to 174.4 thousand travelers, while from France it increased by 41.5% to 54.8 thousand. From Italy there was a 3.6% increase with travelers reaching 83.7 thousand.
Tourism: What the data shows for the future
Bank of Greece data shows that tourism starts 2026 with particularly strong momentum, both in terms of revenue and visitors. This development creates expectations for another positive year, with the sector continuing to be a key driver of economic growth. The overall picture depicts a sector that maintains its resilience and is strengthened through market expansion and improved performance in critical indicators. Tourism remains at the center of economic activity, confirming its importance for Greece.
