Germans and Brits are vital for tourism

German and British holidaymakers accounted for a third of arrivals from abroad and 30 percent of tourist spending last year, according to Bank of Greece data for 2016 processed by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

The regions that enjoyed the highest spending by visitors were Crete, the Southern Aegean (including the Cyclades and the Dodecanese) and the Ionian Islands. In those three regions spending per tourist exceeded 600 euros, against a national average of 449 euros.

The regions with the highest flow of incoming tourism were the Southern Aegean, Crete, Central Macedonia (including Thessaloniki and Halkidiki), Attica and the Ionian Islands. However, due to the different profile of the average tourist in each region, while Central Macedonia saw the greatest number of visitors, the Southern Aegean and Crete had the highest number of overnight...