
At an event held on Monday, May 20, at Athens International Airport (AIA), data showcased the significant impact of the UK market on extending Greece’s tourist season. British Airways reported that the volume of UK tourists visiting Greece during the off-peak period in 2023 has nearly doubled compared to previous years.
Ioanna Papadopoulou, Director of Communications & Marketing at AIA, highlighted that between October and April, tourist arrivals from the UK in 2023 increased by 77% compared to 2016. This growth means the off-peak season now accounts for nearly half of the annual tourist arrivals.
The upward trend continues, with a 7% increase in UK passengers arriving at AIA in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. In 2023, AIA welcomed over 1.8 million passengers from the UK, surpassing the 1.6 million recorded in 2019, which was the second-highest year historically.
The UK market ranks as the third largest for international direct traffic and second for foreign visitors in the Jan-April 2024 period, marking a 24% increase from the same period in 2023. British Airways has significantly contributed to this growth, reporting a 6.6% increase in passengers in the first four months of this year compared to last year.
Source: tovima.com


Latest News

Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.

Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)

Mitsotakis Unveils €1 Billion Plan for Housing, Pensioners, Public investments
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a new set of economic support measures, worth 1 billion euros, aiming to provide financial relief to citizens.

Alter Ego Ventures Invests in Pioneering Gaming Company ‘Couch Heroes’
Alter Ego Ventures' participation in the share capital of Couch Heroes marks yet another investment by the Alter Ego Media Group in innovative companies with a focus on technology.

Corruption Still Plagues Greece’s Driving Tests
While traffic accidents continue to claim lives on Greek roads daily, irregularities and under-the-table dealings in the training and testing of new drivers remain disturbingly widespread

Pope Francis Died of Stroke and Heart Failure Vatican Confirms
As news of the official cause of death spread, tributes poured in from across the globe. The 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church is united in grief, remembering a pope who championed inclusion, justice, and compassion