Visa Data Shows Increase in Tourist Spending and Visitor Numbers in Greece in 2023
Visa's analysis of credit card transactions in 2023 revealed significant trends in tourism to Greece. The data showed a rise in both the average money spent per trip and the number of visitors from various countries. Visitors from Germany and Romania were noted to have increased their spending more than the rise in their numbers, indicating a higher average spending per visitor. Notably, tourists from Turkey showed a substantial 163% increase in arrivals, making it the country with the most significant growth in visitors. The United Kingdom remained the top market for Greek tourism, accounting for 13% of total visitors in 2023, closely followed by the United States which recorded a 23% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, Visa's comparison to 2019 highlighted a notable growth in arrivals from countries with traditionally fewer visitors like the Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, and Ireland. Interestingly, while some destinations like Switzerland saw a proportional increase in spending along with visitor numbers, others such as Santorini, Rhodes, and Chania experienced a surge in card spending. Santorini notably topped the card spending list among the islands, while Athens contributed significantly to the total expenditure in the country. However, it was observed that Mykonos was the only Greek destination that did not see an increase in spending. In terms of expenditure categories, dining and nightlife emerged as the top spenders in 2023, with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs collectively accounting for 22% of expenses, followed by hotels and accommodation at 19%, and supermarkets at 7%. Visa also noted that visitors who stayed longer, indicated by transactions exceeding 30 days, contributed significantly to the country's expenditure, with the US, Cyprus, and the UK being the top spenders in this category.
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