Published on October 8, 2025
The twelvemonth 2025 is shaping up to beryllium a milestone for Greek tourism, pinch visitor arrivals projected to surpass 36 million, according to Nikos Koyumtsis, Vice President of nan Athens Chamber of Commerce. This important maturation reflects nan country’s continued entreaty arsenic a apical recreation destination, driven by its blend of rich | history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. Mr. Koyumtsis shared these projections successful an question and reply pinch ERT, emphasizing that September was an particularly beardown month, moreover surpassing nan traditionally precocious summertime months successful position of visitant numbers.
The superior sources of this surge successful tourism are visitors from nan USA, Canada, and Australia, who often grounds higher purchasing power. These world visitors are fueling a longer tourer season, extending nan typically summer-focused recreation play into nan autumn months. As a result, nan section economy has benefited, particularly successful Athens and different cardinal destinations, generating caller opportunities for local businesses to thrive. This extended tourer play has brought important economical benefits, contributing to nan wide maturation of nan country’s tourism sector.
Challenges successful nan Greek Market: Unfair Competition
Despite nan affirmative trends successful tourism, Mr. Koyumtsis besides raised concerns regarding unfair competition from Asian physics platforms. He highlighted that products weighted up to 150 euros are being imported into Greece without VAT aliases taxation, which negatively impacts European businesses and creates security risks. Many of these products do not meet European standards, pinch immoderate moreover perchance being counterfeit.
To reside this issue, nan European Economic Area (EEA) has recommended nan preamble of a €7 interest per parcel from 3rd countries. This interest intends to guarantee equal treatment and fair competition for section European businesses. A memorandum addressing these concerns has been sent to nan applicable ministries and nan EU, but actual actions are expected to beryllium implemented only aft 2028. In 2024 alone, 4.6 cardinal parcels from Asian platforms arrived successful Europe, pinch astir 80,000 parcels reaching Greece each day. This highlights nan increasing challenge, which is not only financial but besides a matter of consumer protection and control.
Greece’s Dominance successful nan 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
As if to underscore nan ongoing world liking successful Greek tourism, Greece erstwhile again dominated nan 2025 Readers Choice Awards by Condé Nast Traveller, securing apical rankings successful aggregate categories. These prestigious awards, now successful their 28th year, are wished by votes from nan magazine’s UK readership, celebrating destinations and properties that connection exceptional recreation experiences.
Greek Islands Shine astatine nan Awards
The astir important accomplishment for Greece came successful nan shape of Naxos, which was crowned nan Best Island successful Europe. This nickname further solidifies Naxos’ position arsenic a apical tourer destination, offering visitors a unsocial blend of history, culture, and earthy beauty. Other Greek islands besides made awesome showings successful nan rankings:
- Crete – 8th place
- Corfu – 10th place
- Rhodes – 11th place
- Skiathos – 12th place
- Mykonos – 14th place
- Folegandros – 17th place
- Santorini – 18th place
These rankings show that Greece’s islands are consistently among nan astir sought-after destinations successful Europe, drafting millions of visitors who travel to bask their beautiful beaches, rich | heritage, and world-class hospitality.
Greek Hotels Among nan Best successful Europe
The awards besides highlighted nan country’s luxury hotels, pinch Greece being location to 21 hotels classed among nan champion successful Europe. Among nan apical properties was Hotel Grande Bretagne successful Athens, which scored an awesome 99.83, making it 1 of nan apical hotels successful Europe. Other Greek hotels that made nan database included:
- Perivolas Lifestyle Houses, Santorini – Score: 99.67
- The Rooster, Antiparos – Score: 99.64
- Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino – Score: 99.53
- Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel, Athens – Score: 99.47
These accolades bespeak Greece’s thriving luxury hospitality scene, which continues to pull visitors seeking exceptional work and unsocial recreation experiences. Visitors to Greece are intelligibly capable to find an array of high-end accommodations, from classical luxury hotels to much boutique, lifestyle-focused properties.
Top Greek Resorts
In summation to hotels, Greek resorts besides garnered precocious praise. Porto Zante Villas & Spa successful Zakynthos claimed nan apical spot successful nan Best Resorts successful Europe class pinch a stellar people of 99.71. Other notable Greek resorts included:
- Sani Resort, Kassandra
- Ikos Dassia and Ikos Odisia, Corfu
- One&Only Aesthesis, Athens
- Several properties successful Crete and nan Peloponnese
These results underscore nan exceptional scope and value of resorts that Greece offers, making it a starring destination for travelers seeking some relaxation and adventure.
Euphoria Retreat: A Leader successful Wellness
Euphoria Retreat, located successful Mystras, was besides recognized, ranking 6th successful Europe’s Best Spas. This ranking highlights Greece’s increasing estimation successful nan luxury wellness sector, attracting visitors looking for rejuvenating spa experiences amid nan country’s earthy beauty.
Greece’s Reputation arsenic One of Europe’s Friendliest Countries
Greece was besides classed 6th among nan Top 10 Friendliest Countries successful Europe, a reflection of nan warmth and hospitality that proceed to captivate world visitors. This ranking highlights nan value of individual interactions successful nan Greek tourism experience, wherever visitors often consciousness for illustration portion of nan community, enhancing their wide recreation experience.
Athens: A Leading European City
The Greek capital, Athens, earned its spot arsenic Europe’s 12th Best City according to nan Readers’ Choice Awards. This ranking speaks to Athens’ exceptional blend of ancient history and vibrant modern culture. The metropolis continues to tie visitors pinch its humanities landmarks, specified arsenic nan Acropolis, and its thriving modern scene, including world-class restaurants, creation galleries, and bustling markets.
A Bright Future for Greek Tourism
The 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards results further cement Greece’s position arsenic a world-class recreation destination. With a increasing number of world visitors and expanding nickname for its islands, hotels, resorts, and spas, Greece continues to captivate nan hearts of tourists. The ongoing description of nan tourism season, mixed pinch efforts to guarantee nan country’s competitiveness, positions Greece for a sustainable and prosperous early successful tourism.
Despite challenges specified arsenic nan emergence of unfair title from Asian platforms, Greece’s tourism assemblage remains resilient, leveraging its earthy beauty, rich | taste heritage, and committedness to offering high-quality experiences for visitors. As nan state looks ahead, nan outlook for Greek tourism successful 2025 and beyond remains exceptionally bright.