Greece Sets New Tourism Revenue Records
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
Greece is on track for yet another record-breaking year in tourism in 2025, despite ongoing labor shortages in the sector, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloyani said on Sunday, according to AFP and BTA. In an interview with the Greek news agency ANA-MPA, she expressed confidence that the country’s tourism industry will continue its strong performance.
From January to the end of September, Greece welcomed 31.6 million visitors, a 4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to Bank of Greece data published in late November. In total, 40.7 million tourists visited the country in 2024, marking a 12.8 percent increase from 2023. The growth has been fueled by the appeal of Greece’s Aegean islands and its archaeological sites, with tourism revenue consistently reaching new highs since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the positive figures, there are ongoing concerns about overdevelopment on certain islands, particularly Santorini, which has seen rapid construction growth. Extreme weather events such as heat waves and wildfires also remain a threat to the industry. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has prioritized tourism since taking office in 2019, aiming to support economic recovery following Greece’s financial crisis.
Tourism remains a major pillar of the Greek economy. According to the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), it contributed directly to about 13 percent of GDP in 2024 and indirectly to more than 30 percent. Kefaloyani expressed optimism about 2026, citing early positive indicators.
However, the sector continues to struggle with a shortage of workers, a challenge affecting many European countries. Another pressure point has been the growth of short-term rentals in central Athens, which has driven up property prices and made housing less accessible for local residents. To address this, Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced an extension of the existing ban on new short-term rentals in central Athens, aiming to curb uncontrolled growth in the city’s housing market.
“Loyal EU Member” Bulgaria Under Fire from Russian Ambassador over Serbia Gas Talks
Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko delivered sharp criticism of Bulgaria, highlighting its EU membership as a complicating factor in the delivery of Russian gas to Serbia
Serbia Records Worst Corruption Score in Two Decades
According to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, Serbia has recorded its lowest ranking in 20 years, placing 116th out of 182 countries and territories
Romania Shifts Gears: Government Pushes for Investment-Led Economy
The Romanian government is moving to reshape the country’s economy by shifting the focus from consumption-driven growth to investment-led development, according to Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare.
Dodik Ally Sinisa Karan Elected Republika Srpska President in Repeat Vote
Sinisa Karan has been confirmed as the new president of Republika Srpska following a repeat early election held to replace the banned Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, according to final results.
Fourteen Dead after Migrant Boat Crashes into Greek Coastguard Vessel
At least 14 people have died after a migrant speedboat collided with a Greek coastguard patrol vessel near the eastern Aegean island of Chios, according to Greek authorities. The incident occurred at sea, prompting an immediate large-scale search and resc
Greek Security Services Investigate Property Buying Boom by Bulgarians in Northern Greece
Greek national security agencies have launched an investigation into the growing number of land and property acquisitions in Northern Greece by citizens from Bulgaria and Turkey
