New data from the Bank of Greece confirms what many people working in tourism already observe on the ground: tourism remains one of the strongest pillars of the Greek economy.
But the numbers only make sense once they are explained properly.
The short version
- Greece earned more money from tourism in October 2025 than in October 2024
- Greece earned significantly more money from tourism overall in 2025 than in the year before
- More people visited the country, and they also spent slightly more per trip
- Tourism covered most of Greece’s trade deficit, once again acting as an economic safety net
In plain terms, tourism is carrying the economy.
What “travel surplus” means (without the jargon)
When economists say Greece posted a surplus in travel services, they mean this:
Tourists spent far more money in Greece than Greeks spent travelling abroad.
In October 2025 alone, that difference amounted to almost €2 billion.
From January to October 2025, the surplus reached €19.5 billion, higher than the same period in 2024.
This matters because that money:
- helps balance Greece’s imports
- supports jobs directly and indirectly
- keeps pressure off public finances
Without tourism, Greece’s economic picture would look much darker.
More visitors, slightly higher spending
Tourism growth did not result from a single factor.
In October 2025:
- 7.2% more travelers came to Greece compared to October 2024
- Average spending per trip also rose, even if modestly
Over the first ten months of 2025:
- Total arrivals increased by 4.4%
- Average spending per visitor increased by 3.9%
This combination is important. It shows that Greece is not only attracting more visitors but also avoiding the “cheap tourism” trap.
Who is spending — and who is not
The data also shows clear shifts by market:
Strong growth
- United Kingdom: significant increase in both visitors and spending
- Germany: still Greece’s largest market, with steady growth
- Italy: noticeable rise in both arrivals and receipts
Weaker or declining
- France: fewer visitors and lower receipts in October
- United States: decline in October, modest recovery over the year
Russia remains practically irrelevant in tourism terms, for obvious geopolitical reasons.
For tourism businesses, this confirms a trend already evident: the UK market is currently outperforming others, whereas reliance on long-haul markets entails greater volatility.
Airports, roads, and seasonality
Another detail that matters for planning:
- Arrivals through airports increased steadily
- Arrivals through land borders grew even faster in October
This points to:
- stronger regional travel
- increased mobility within Europe
- opportunities for off-season and mainland tourism, not just islands
Why this matters beyond the numbers
Tourism revenues accounted for more than 70% of Greece’s trade deficit and nearly 90% of all service-sector net income in 2025 to date.
That is not a side industry.
That is structural dependence.
And here is the part that deserves attention:
Greece is earning more from tourism — but this does not automatically mean everyone benefits equally.
The money flows strongly, but where it flows remains the real question:
- coastal vs inland
- large hotels vs small businesses
- seasonal jobs vs stable livelihoods
These numbers are encouraging — but they also underline how much the country depends on tourism getting things right.
