Greece received approximately 1.4m UK visitors between January and July 2016, an increase of 5.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Bank of Greece.

Overall, Greece received 12.1m overseas visitors between January and July 2016, an increase of one per cent compared to the same period in 2015. During July 2016, there were approximately 4.7m visitors to Greece, up six per cent compared to July 2015.

A study by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (InSETE) suggested there would be a six per cent increase in international tourist arrivals in 2016, with the number of arrivals expected to exceed 25 million. This increase is expected to generate expenditure of 14.55 billion euros, an increase of 6.4 per cent. For more information, please see here.

Greek airports see increase in passenger traffic in 2016

Passenger traffic through Greece’s airports increased by 8.1 per cent year-on-year during the January-August 2016 period, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority. A total of 37,368,155 people passed through the country’s airports in the first eight months of 2016.

According to the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Crete, the Ionian and Cyclades islands received the most international arrivals compared to 2015, while Athens and Thessaloniki also performed well.

Increase in cruise passengers through Piraeus Port

The first seven months of 2016 saw an 18.5 per cent year-on-year increase in passengers passing through Pireaus port in Athens, according to the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP). The January – July 2016 period saw 150,000 more cruise passengers in Greece compared to the same period last year.

For more information, please see here.