World

Greece posts new tourism record in 2023 despite fires

Greece in 2023 posted a new record for tourism, the central bank said Wednesday, despite a prolonged heatwave and a series of destructive wildfires that necessitated thousands of evacuations.

Over 32.7 million people visited the country last year, the Bank of Greece said in releasing preliminary figures, despite the wave of wildfires around the country that left at least 26 dead.

ALSO READ: Greece legalises same-sex marriage, adoption

Advertisement

In some areas, temperatures exceeded 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 Fahrenheit).

Tens of thousands of visitors had to be evacuated on the islands of Rhodes and Corfu in July. A month later, fires devastated a key national park near the border with Turkey.

Massive floods then struck central Greece in September.

Advertisement

In 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic, foreign arrivals were at a then record of 31.3 million.

ALSO READ: UK archives show Parthenon marbles role in 2012 Olympics lobbying

Revenue also set a new milestone with nearly 20.5 billion euros ($22.1 billion) compared to 18.15 billion in 2019.

Advertisement

Compared to 2022, EU traveller flows rose 15.6 percent while non-EU arrivals were also up by 20.8 percent.

The bank is to release final figures in April.

© Agence France-Presse

Advertisement

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

Published by
By Agence France Presse
Read more on these topics: Greecetourismtravel