The number of tourists to Greece in 2012, a time of protests, strikes and riots against austerity measures, fell 5.5% as 15,517,622 people arrived to Greece, which means 909,625 fewer people than in 2011. This is the result of the borders research, conducted by the Bank of Greece and published by the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Arrivals from Europe, which accounts for the largest share of arrivals (89.3%), showed a drop of the same level, while Member States of the European Union recorded an 8.5% fall.
A significant reduction in arrivals was seen from Poland 43.5%, France 15%, Germany 5.9%, Belgium 24.4%, Italy 9.6%, Bulgaria 12.7% and the Netherlands 14.7%. Also the arrivals from Cyprus fell by 3,4%.
In contrast, a significant increase in arrivals was seen from the United Kingdom (162,755 persons or 9.3%) and Russia (136,760 persons or 18.4%) to Greece.
From the other continents, there is a substantial decrease of arrivals, in absolute terms, from America (160,933 persons or 22.4%) while there is an increase in the arrivals from Asian countries (54,407 people or 6.2%.) From Oceania, the arrivals decreased by 1,611 tourists or 1.2%, from Africa fell by 1,039 persons or 2.7%.
The airport with the largest traffic is the Eleftherios Venizelos (17.1%), followed by airports of Heraklion (13.3%) and Rhodes (10.3%)
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