Greek tourism sees 2.6% rise in August arrivals, led by foreign visitors
In August 2026, Greece recorded 7.43 million tourist arrivals, up 2.6% from the previous year, with foreign visitors driving most of the growth.
According to ELSTAT, August 2026 welcomed 7,429,931 visitors, marking a 2.6% increase over the same month in 2025, while overnight stays climbed 2.1% to 34,685,695. Foreign travelers contributed the bulk of the rise, representing 76.7% of arrivals and 84% of nights spent, compared with 23.3% and 16% for Greek residents. The most pronounced growth occurred in collective short-stay accommodation, where arrivals jumped 5.2% and overnight stays rose 4.6%, outpacing hotels and campsites by several percentage points.
In hotels and campsites, foreign arrivals grew 1.9% versus 0.5% for locals, while rented rooms saw foreign arrivals increase 5.5% against 4.2% for Greeks. The average length of stay remained at 4.7 days, with foreigners staying about 5.1 days and Greeks about 3.2 days. These figures highlight the stronger influence of international demand on Greece’s tourism sector.
