Greek tourism is showing exceptional early signs this year, as in the first two months of 2024, travel receipts showed an increase of +24.5% compared to the corresponding period of 2023 and amounted to 570 million euros, according to the new research of INSETE Intelligence.
As the Institute points out, this development is due to the increase in receipts from residents of European Union (EU) countries by +60.2%, which amounted to 304 million euros, as receipts from residents of non-EU countries decreased by -0.9% and amounted to 261 million euros. Receipts from residents of the eurozone countries amounted to 241 million euros, increased by +48.9%, while receipts from residents of EU countries outside the eurozone increased by +125.1% and amounted to 63 million euros .
Receipts from Germany increased by +48.7% to EUR 59 million, while receipts from France decreased by -12.9% to EUR 34 million. From countries outside the EU, receipts from the United Kingdom were down by -11.7% to €33 million, while receipts from the USA were up +20.9% to €46 million. euro.
According to the same survey, in the first quarter of 2024, 1.6 million international air arrivals were recorded, surpassing the levels of the first quarter of 2023, while an increase of +18.7%/+253 thousand arrivals was noted. in January 485 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +25.3%/+98 thousand international arrivals. In February, 462 thousand international arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +75 thousand/+19.5%. In March, international air arrivals amounted to 656 thousand showing an increase of +80 thousand/+13.8%.
The elements of the Civil Aviation Service are moving along the same wavelength. Overall, there was a +17% increase in passenger traffic last March compared to the corresponding period in 2023. In particular, the total number of passengers (international and domestic arrivals and departures) reached 243,314 this year, compared to 207,928 passengers in March 2023.
At the same time, there is an increase of +14.4% compared to last year in passenger traffic in the first quarter of the year. In particular, the total number of passengers in the first quarter reached 7,876,353 this year, compared to 6,884,904 passengers in the first quarter of 2023.
For the first quarter of 2024 in terms of flights (domestic and international aircraft arrivals and departures) at all the country’s airports there is an increase of +7.8% compared to the corresponding period of 2023. In particular in the first quarter of 2024 there were 70,271 flights, compared to 65,211 flights in the first quarter of 2023.
In addition, according to data on passenger traffic on the Aegean network during the Easter holidays, on the domestic network from the base in Athens, flights from April 26 to Holy Saturday record occupancy exceeding 80% , while the return traffic already registers over 90% occupancies and peaks on Tuesday, May 7, where the May Day holiday is also moved.
The evolution of the traffic from the company’s second largest base in Thessaloniki is also recorded, where the occupancy rates on the domestic network are increased, reaching 90% with the return flights already full.
In the international network from Athens International Airport, the occupancy rates are significantly higher compared to the corresponding period last year, starting from 75% to 82% with the traffic peaking from the middle of Holy Week, while from the “Macedonia” airport the average occupancy of international flights ranges from 80% to 86%.
Source: Reporter.gr
