Greece Ranks in Top 10 World Tourist Destinations, UNWTO and Eurostat Report

Greece has achieved a significant milestone in the tourism sector, as it has been ranked among the top 10 destinations in the world by the United Nations’ UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). According to data from Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency, Greece’s enduring and growing popularity has contributed to this achievement.

The EU accounted for 45.8 percent of global arrivals in 2022, with Greece being one of the top choices for tourists. This announcement coincided with World Tourism Day, as reported by GTP Headlines.

Among the most visited destinations in Europe, in addition to Greece, were France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Austria. However, concerns have arisen about the impact of climate change, which has brought record heat and natural disasters to Greece, potentially deterring tourists from visiting.

According to Eurostat data, international tourists accounted for 43.0 percent of all nights spent in EU tourist accommodation facilities in 2022. In 11 out of the 27 EU countries, the majority of tourists were foreigners, reaching 84 percent in Greece.

The Bank of Greece’s data revealed that travel receipts during the January-July period increased by 20.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022, when health restrictions were eased, while arrivals rose by 21.9 percent.

Additionally, in the eight-month period leading up to August 2023, Greek airports witnessed a noteworthy growth in passenger traffic. They handled 50.15 million passengers, marking a 14.5 percent increase compared to 2022 and an 11.7 percent surge compared to 2019, as stated in the report.