Tourist arrivals up in 2014

The statistics service, in a report, said that total arrivals grew 8.7 pct while overnight stays rose 5.5 pct in 2014. Total room occupancy in hotels (except campings) rose to 47.3 pct in 2014 from 45.2 pct in 2013. The report showed that 85.1 pct of arrivals and 92.4 pct of overnights stays in hotel-type and campings was recorded in the period from April to October, evidence that the tourist season has expanded compared with previous years.

Attica (20.5 pct of arrivals and 10.4 pct of stays), Southern Aegean (17.3 pct of arrivals and 23.8 pct of stays), Crete (18.4 pct of arrivals and 27.4 pct of stays), Central Macedonia (12.7 pct of arrivals and 11.2 pct of stays), Ionian Islands (7.1 pct of arrivals and 10.6 pct of stays) and the Peloponese (5.4 pct of arrivals and 3.5 pct of stays), recorded the highest percentage increases in 2014.

European tourists accounted for 82.9 pct of arrivals and 91.8 pct of overnight stays (EU member-stays 64.6 pct and 70.6 pct respectively). The UK had the biggest share with 11.9 pct of arrivals and 14.3 pct of stays, followed by Germany (11.7 pct and 16.1 pct), France (7.7 pct and 6.6 pct), Italy (5.5 pct and 4.5 pct), Holland (3.7 pct and 4.6 pct) and Sweden (3.4 pct and 3.9 pct). Russia's share was 8.6 pct of arrivals and 12 pct of overnight stays.