• The tourism balance hit a surplus of €220.9 million in March 2025.
• The cumulative surplus for January to March 2025 reached €398.4 million.
• Tourism receipts grew by 5.1% in March 2025.
• From January to March, tourism receipts were up by 4.4%.
• The number of incoming travelers increased by 5.4% during March and the first quarter.

A Balmy March in Greece Brings a Fresh Wave of Travelers

Sunlight stretches across Athens’ ancient stones as March warms the Greek air. The travel balance for March 2025 shows a surplus of €220.9 million. That’s a shade below last year but far from the gloom—especially with more travellers drifting in on the spring breeze. Tourism receipts hit €473.4 million for the month, up from €450.5 million last March. Spenders, it turns out, came in more substantial numbers, even though the average euro-per-visitor dipped ever so slightly.

Airport terminals buzzed with a 17% jump in fliers, while the scene at land borders got a bit quieter—a 12% drop there—still, all those arriving flights brought good news: a 5.4% boost in overall inbound travelers. The calm, blue Aegean watched as Germans and Italians rolled their suitcases in, though travelers from France arrived in far fewer numbers, maybe lured elsewhere by moodier spring weather.

Where Travel Money Flows—Tourism Receipts in March 2025

There was a curious dance to the money this March. While visitors from the European Union’s 27 countries padded Greece’s receipts by 11.1%, arrivals from non-EU lands spent 1.4% less. The Eurozone itself—think Germany, France, Italy—added 1.3% more, while the rest of the EU (outside the euro club) splurged with a massive 92.7% leap.

Now, if you peer closer, each nation had its own story. German tourists, often easy to spot with their sun hats and guidebooks, spent 27.1% less. The French held back by 13.2%, dropping to €14.1 million—perhaps saving room for croissants back home. On the other hand, the Italians brought a sunny disposition and a 28.1% increase in spending. The UK’s numbers eased by 2.7%, and American spending dropped a notable 29.8%, landing at €55.7 million. Russians, meanwhile, left only €0.4 million behind—a staggering 74.9% fall.

Trends from January to March 2025

With winter’s last shivers, the story gets more layered. From January to March 2025, Greece pulled in a €398.4 million surplus in its travel balance—smaller than last year but still a comforting cushion. Tourism receipts grew by €45.7 million, a rise of 4.4%. Traveler spending from all non-EU corners increased 8.5%.

Traveler expenditure from the Eurozone showed a slight 0.6% dip, down to €434.2 million, while fellow Europeans from outside the euro added 5.1%, bringing their total to €85.7 million. British spending jumped an impressive 17.8% to €72 million, and Americans handed over 4.5% more euros than last year, totaling €143.8 million.

Who Came, Who Stayed—Inbound Visitors

March 2025 witnessed 921,500 arrivals, each bringing a promise of cafe chatter and hotel reservations. That’s a 5.4% lift from the previous March. Listen closely at the arrivals lounge: Germans streamed in with a 16.3% jump, while French chatter fell, with numbers halved. Italy’s presence grew by 10.5%, British arrivals by 17.1%, and Americans by almost 20%.

Through the winter and spring, every third visitor had a different accent. From January to March, 2.46 million travelers explored the Acropolis, snacked on olives, or wandered Santorini’s cliffs. Arrivals by air rose 14.1%, while road crossings fell 8.1%. The Eurozone sent more guests, but the rest of the EU dropped off sharply—down nearly a third. Russians clocked in at just 1,900 for the whole quarter.

Numbers Whisper—Behind the Scenes of Greek Tourism’s Pulse

Every percentage tells a secret. The boost in tourism receipts didn’t come from bigger spenders, but rather from more people arriving, ordering coffees, and posting photos. Yes—average spend per trip fell, if only a hair, but the sheer influx carried the day.

Net income from tourism offset about 7% of Greece’s stubborn goods trade deficit in March. Travel was responsible for over half the country’s service export surplus that month. Even as patterns shift—Italians splashing out, Russians fading away—Greece remains magnetic. Visitors keep coming, sometimes to escape, sometimes to discover, sometimes just for a taste of that honey-warm Greek sun.

For more granular figures (or for the data curious), all official statistics are available straight from the Bank of Greece announcements.