Greek Tourism: “Strong” first quarter for arrivals by air

Greek tourism is “soaring” in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the corresponding period of 2019, as international air arrivals set a new record, but international road arrivals remain an Achilles’ heel.

According to a relevant bulletin of the Institute of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), air arrivals recorded in the first quarter of this year an increase of 87.5% compared to the same period last year and a 12.8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2019 .In terms of road arrivals in the first quarter of this year they recorded an increase of 89.7% compared to the same period last year but a decrease of 19.2% compared to the first quarter of 2019.

International arrivals at major airports

More specifically in the period January-March 2023, 1.4 million international air arrivals were recorded, surpassing the levels of January-March 2022, with an increase of +87.5%/+646 thousand arrivals, while compared to the period January- March 2019 the increase is estimated at +12.8%.

All geographical units recorded an increase in the January-March period of 2023, compared to the corresponding period of 2022.

In particular, in the period January-March 2023, 1.4 million international air arrivals were recorded, surpassing the levels of January-March 2022, showing an increase of +87.5%/+646 thousand arrivals. In particular, 387 thousand arrivals were recorded in January, showing an increase of +117%/+208 thousand international arrivals. In February, 386 thousand international arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +73.7%/+164 thousand. Finally, in March international air arrivals reached 612 thousand showing an increase of +81.1%/+274 thousand international arrivals.

In the period January-March 2023, 967 thousand international air arrivals were recorded at Athens International Airport, showing an increase of +469 thousand/+94.2%. It was followed by Thessaloniki airport where 328 thousand international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +117 thousand/+55.5%.

At Heraklion airport an increase of +45 thousand/+483% was recorded while international air arrivals reached 54 thousand and at Chania airport arrivals reached 12 thousand showing an increase of +4 thousand/+46.9%.

At Rhodes airport, 11 thousand international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +7 thousand/+181 and at Santorini airport, 3 thousand international arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +566 passengers/+23%.

Finally, in Corfu the international air arrivals were 8 thousand showing an increase of +4 thousand/+93.1%. In the rest of the airports the international air arrivals for the first quarter of 2023 were lower than 1000.

All geographic units recorded an increase in the January-March period of 2023, compared to the corresponding period of 2022. In the geographic unit of Crete, where international air arrivals were formed at 66 thousand recording an increase of +49 thousand/+283% . International air arrivals at the airports of the Dodecanese reached 11 thousand, registering an increase of +7 thousand/+150.4%. In the Cyclades there were 4 thousand international air arrivals showing an increase of +1 thousand/+25.5%. Finally, in the geographical unit of the Ionian Islands, an increase of +4 thousand/+73.6% was recorded, while 9 thousand international air arrivals were recorded.

Arrivals by road

In the period January-March 2023, 1.1 million international road arrivals were recorded, compared to 583 thousand in the period January-March 2022, showing an increase of +89.7%/+523 thousand road arrivals. An increase was recorded by all neighboring countries. Compared to January-March 2019, international road arrivals are down -19.2%

In the period January-March 2023, 1.1 million international road arrivals were recorded, compared to 583 thousand in the period January-March 2022, showing an increase of +89.7%/+523 thousand road arrivals. In particular, 413 thousand arrivals were recorded in January showing an increase of +243 thousand/ +143% and in February 313 thousand arrivals showing an increase of +138 thousand/+79.1%. The increase continued in March at a slower rate by +59.2%/+141 thousand, while 379 thousand arrivals were recorded. In the period January-March 2023, all border stations recorded an increase, with the exception of Doirani. In particular, the border station of Evzones recorded the largest increase in absolute differences by +150 thousand/+196% with road arrivals amounting to 227 thousand, followed by the border station of Kipi which recorded an increase of +73 thousand/+ 157% with road arrivals amounting to 119 thousand. The largest increase in percentage miscellaneous is recorded the border crossing of Kastania where in the same period road arrivals stood at at 23 thousand registering an increase of +18 thousand/+401%. On the contrary, at Doirani border crossing a decrease was recorded at -39.2%/ -18 thousand while 27 thousand arrivals were recorded.

In the period January-March 2023, an increase was recorded from all neighboring countries in relation to the corresponding period of 2022. In particular, the largest increase in absolute differences was recorded by North Macedonia by +191 thousand/+140% while 327 thousand were recorded. road arrivals followed by Bulgaria with the increase amounting to +145 thousand/+89.9% with 306 thousand road arrivals. The increase from Albania amounted to +96 thousand/+40.9% as road arrivals amounted to 330 thousand, while the biggest increase in percentage differences was recorded by Turkey which recorded an increase of +91 thousand/+179% with road arrivals to be 142 thousand.