Data shows Greek tourism arrivals up 15.5% in 2013

ATHENS — Tourist arrivals in Greece increased by 15.5 per cent in 2013, according to the state statistics agency, a year when the country stabilised its shaky economy and avoided a messy exit from the euro.

Overall, there were over 17.9 million arrivals between January and December last year compared to 15.5 million in 2012, the agency indicated.

Most foreign arrivals — 88.1 per cent — came from elsewhere in Europe, a figure which rose 13.9 per cent year-on-year, including a 7.5 per cent increase from European Union (EU) states, the agency pointed out.

Among the 15.8 million Europeans who visited in 2013, there were 2.3 million from Germany, 1.9 million from Britain — albeit with a 3.9 per cent drop — and 1.2 million from France.

There was also a major influx from Russia, with arrivals increasing from 874,000 to 1.4 million.

Tourism, which makes up about 17 per cent of Greece's economy, had slumped in recent years with foreign vacationers turned off by images of striking Greeks and economic meltdown brought on by the debt crisis that began in 2009.

In 2012, there was political instability and double elections that stalled the progress of reforms and raised fears of a humiliating Greek exit from the euro.

Last year, Greece scored its first primary surplus in years. It began to lure back investors and convinced international creditors of its determination to carry out promised structural changes to revive the economy.

The Greek economy is expected to exit a six-year recession this year.