2024-03-04 15:53:34
Americans are “open-handed” – Their average spending is 60% higher than other tourists
Travelers from the United States of America are proving to be the fastest growing national group of tourists. Not only are they growing at rates of more than 10% per year, but the average per capita expenditure per trip is approximately 60% higher than any other nationality.
The significantly improved overall image of Greece in the United States in recent years, combined with the increased interest of Americans in sea travel, but also in countries with strong cultural interest and antiquities, have contributed significantly to their arrival in the country. In addition, the rapid and successful opening of Greek destinations during the pandemic, as early as 2020, strengthened the image of the Greek tourism product and the reliability of services in general.
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This is pointed out by sources from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), who add that based on recent surveys of consumer behavior in the USA (GWI – INSETE Intelligence), 52% of respondents express an increased interest in other cultures, while 62% seek on sun and sea holidays in high quality resorts.
In this context, 2023 saw a new historical record of arrivals from the USA, while Greece has entered the top five Mediterranean destinations of interest to Americans. These are, in hierarchical order, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia. In a broader view, however, Greece is only in 19th place (data 2022) in relation to the destinations that Americans mainly choose for their vacations. The top five destinations are, in order, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and France. In any case, the Greek tourism product can now more easily meet the higher demands of American travelers, but also of the upper income classes internationally, as shown by the increase of 4 and 5 star hotels, but also the increase of large foreign branded management chains in Hellas.
Direct flights from the US to Greece each week will reach 82 this summer.
Bank of Greece data for 2023 shows that travel traffic from the US increased by 29.2% compared to 2022, to 1.406 million travelers. This is a new historical record, the previous one having been recorded in 2019, with 1.178 million arrivals. Travel receipts brought in by visitors from the United States last year increased by 14% compared to 2022 and amounted to 1.367 billion euros. In other words, the average expenditure per trip by Americans in Greece was approximately 972 euros in 2023, while overall in Greece from all the markets from which visitors come, the average expenditure per trip decreased by 2.7%, to 603.3 euros last year, according to data just published by the Bank of Greece.
It is worth noting that the highest average per capita expenditure occurred in 2021 and exceeded 700 euros, while correspondingly the average per capita expenditure of travelers from the USA was over 1,000 euros. However, this particular year is not representative, as only the very economically well-off population groups traveled during that period, as shown by international data.
The American market is now the fourth largest for Greek tourism after German, British and French, and if it continues at this rate it will surpass the French market. However, the figures are encouraging for this year as well, as bookings from the US are already up and confirmed bookings, according to INSETE’s airdata tracker, for 2024 are 3.2% higher than , than at the same time the corresponding period last year (end of January).
The increased demand for Greece has certainly not escaped the attention of the major American airlines, which are increasing their direct flights from American destinations to Athens. According to the data available so far from Athens International Airport, this year at the height of the summer season there will be an average of 12 direct flights per day. Connections between American cities and Greece through intermediate destinations, such as London, Frankfurt or Istanbul, have also increased. Of course, the passenger traffic supplied by Greeks abroad maintains the increased interest of air companies.
Source kathimerini.gr