They exceeded all expectations arrival of passengers from abroad in July 14 regional airports. Inbound passenger traffic amounted to 5.127 million passengers compared to 4.49 million in the corresponding month of 2019. These figures are a new record for arrivals at these airports and the increase corresponds to a percentage of 13.9%. Considering that domestic traffic decreased by 7.4% compared to the corresponding month of 2019, the total passenger traffic at the 14 regional airports under Fraport Greece was 11.1% higher than the previous year before the pandemic. As the 14 regional airports cover all major summer tourist destinations, it is clear that the dynamic recovery of Greek tourism is going strong. In fact, the dynamics of the summer months managed to close the gap from the beginning of the year, since for all seven months 14 regional airports show an increase in passenger traffic from abroad by about 4.2%. In particular, they received 12.85 million passengers compared to 12.33 million in 2019. If we also take into account domestic passenger traffic, this year’s seven-month period compared to 2019, a record year for Greek tourism, seems to be marginally reduced, by only 0.2. % (16.216 million this year against 16.252 million in 2019). As for the prospects for international flights going forward, Giorgos Vilos, General Director of Development of Fraport Greece, in an interview with Kathimerini, is optimistic that August will be as dynamic as July. However, he notes that “we must all remain vigilant, because difficult times may lie ahead.”

It is becoming clear that predictions that this year will surpass the last pre-pandemic record year for Greek tourism are nearing their test. Barring an unexpected windfall, inbound tourism is expected to grow by around 5% in terms of travelers and 10% in terms of travel revenue. In particular, an increase in average travel spending by foreigners in Greece of around 10% based on data currently available, as well as a strong recovery in travel arrivals, confirm estimates of an increase in travel revenue this year compared to 2019. up to about 10%. In particular, Greek tourism institutions as well as government officials estimate that inbound tourism revenues could reach 20 billion euros this year, compared to 18.2 billion in 2019.

14% more international travelers at regional airports than in 2019.

These estimates are also based on the assumption that passenger traffic to Athens will start to recover significantly as the autumn months begin, lagging behind the 14 regional airports so far. In particular, the passenger traffic of Athens Airport in July amounted to 2.83 million people, a decrease of 5.1% compared with the traffic in July 2019. In more detail, domestic passenger traffic approached 2019 levels, recording a minimal drop of 0.3%, while international passenger traffic showed a single-digit decline of 7.2% compared to 2019. In general, in the first seven months of the year, the airport’s passenger traffic reached 11.8 million and remained 17.1% lower than in 2019. Domestic passenger traffic remained below 2019 levels. levels by 10.5%, and international passengers by 20%, respectively.