Foreign Visitors Boost Greek Tourism In June – Domestic Demand Is In Decline

Tourism activity at accommodation establishments in Greece increased in June 2026, with foreign visitors acting as the main driver of both arrivals and overnight stays, while domestic demand recorded a slight decline.

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According to preliminary data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), a total of 5.58 million arrivals and 24.06 million overnight stays were recorded in tourist accommodation in June 2026. Compared with June 2025, arrivals increased by 1.3%, while overnight stays rose by 1.4%.

The data cover hotel-type accommodation, campsites and collective short-stay establishments, such as rooms to let.

International tourism demand was largely what supported the increase. Arrivals of foreign visitors reached 4.58 million, up 1.7% from 4.50 million a year earlier. Overnight stays by foreign visitors also increased by 1.7%, reaching 21.54 million, from 21.17 million in June 2025.

The picture in the domestic market was quite different. Arrivals of residents fell by 0.4%, to just over 1 million, from 1.006 million in the same month of 2025, while their overnight stays decreased by 0.9%, to around 2.53 million.

The gap between domestic and foreign tourism becomes even more evident when their share of the total market is examined. Foreign visitors accounted for 82% of total arrivals in June and an even higher 89.5% of overnight stays. Residents covered the remaining 18% of arrivals and 10.5% of overnight stays.

Faster growth in short-stay accommodation

The strongest increase was recorded by collective short-stay accommodation, which includes rooms to let.

Arrivals in this category increased by 4.2% year-on-year, reaching 1.23 million from 1.18 million in June 2025. At the same time, overnight stays rose by 2.8%, to 5.59 million from 5.43 million.

Demand from abroad was particularly strong. Arrivals of foreign visitors at short-stay accommodation increased by 4.5%, approaching 1.03 million, while their overnight stays rose by 3.3%, reaching 4.91 million.

Arrivals of residents at these establishments also increased, by 2.7%, to 197,599. However, overnight stays by Greek visitors edged down slightly by 0.3%, to 677,681.

Growth was more limited in hotel-type accommodation and campsites. Together they welcomed 4.35 million arrivals, up 0.6%, while overnight stays increased by 1%, to 18.47 million.

In the same category, arrivals of foreign visitors rose by 0.9%, to 3.55 million, and their overnight stays by 1.3%, to 16.62 million. By contrast, domestic traffic fell, as both arrivals and overnight stays by residents declined by 1.1%, to 804,565 arrivals and 1.85 million overnight stays respectively.

The breakdown by type of accommodation confirms the heavy reliance on foreign visitors. Non-residents accounted for 81.7% of arrivals at hotel-type establishments, 83.9% at short-stay accommodation and 70.9% at campsites.

The corresponding shares in overnight stays were even higher, with foreign visitors responsible for 90.5% of nights spent in hotel-type accommodation, 87.9% in short-stay establishments and 64.6% in campsites.

Average length of stay at 4.3 nights

The average length of stay across all accommodation types remained unchanged from a year earlier, at 4.3 overnight stays.

Foreign visitors stayed noticeably longer, with an average of 4.7 overnight stays, compared with 2.5 overnight stays for residents.

In hotel-type accommodation and campsites, the average stay stood at 4.2 overnight stays, unchanged from June 2025, while in short-stay establishments it was 4.6 overnight stays.

Non-residents stayed an average of 4.7 overnight stays in hotel-type accommodation and campsites and 4.8 overnight stays in short-stay establishments. Residents stayed an average of 2.3 overnight stays in hotel-type accommodation and campsites, while in short-stay establishments their average stay fell to 3.4 overnight stays from 3.5 a year earlier.

Rise compared with the pandemic years continues

ELSTAT's long-term chart also shows the substantial increase in June tourism flows compared with 2021.

Arrivals rose from 1.92 million in June 2021 to 4.47 million in 2022, 5.13 million in 2023, 5.33 million in 2024 and 5.51 million in 2025, reaching 5.58 million in June 2026.

Overnight stays followed a similar trajectory, rising from 7.27 million in June 2021 to 19.74 million in 2022, 22.55 million in 2023, 23.24 million in 2024, 23.72 million in 2025 and 24.06 million this June.

The June figures therefore show that the Greek market for tourist accommodation continues to move upwards, albeit at relatively moderate rates. At the same time, the sector's strong dependence on international demand is once again highlighted, as foreign visitors account for more than four in five arrivals and almost nine in ten overnight stays.

ELSTAT notes that the data for June 2026 are provisional. The survey covers accommodation across the country and records arrivals and overnight stays by residents and non-residents, while final annual figures are published six months after the end of the reference year.

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