A Destination for the Rich? Luxury Travel in Greece Seen Soaring

Platis Gialos BeachPlatis Gialos Beach
Platis Gialos Beach on the Greek island of Mykonos has been identified as one of the most expensive beaches in the world. Credit: 7777777kz / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Greece’s luxury travel industry is seen rising to $2.7 billion by 2030, according to a report published recently by Travel and Tour World.

In 2020, the value of Greece’s high-end travel sector was estimated at approximately $767.8 million. By 2030, it is anticipated that it will soar to around $2,736.7 million, experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5 percent from 2021 to 2030.

The luxury travel segment within Greece’s tourism industry has been witnessing a marked upsurge, fueled by growing interest in distinctive and luxurious vacation locales. This niche market is gradually expanding its footprint, driven by increased disposable incomes and enhanced living standards, the report says.

Greece is trying to attract tourists year-round. However, it’s still the summer months of magic that brings them to the country. This includes celebrities who are attracted to the islands and resorts popping up around the country that take over public beaches.

Statistical data from Greece’s national authorities place the country as the thirteenth most visited globally, attracting over thirty million international tourists annually, predominantly from the European Union nations and the United States. More recently, there has been increased interest from Asia, especially China.

The report notes that growth in Greece’s luxury travel industry can be attributed to numerous upscale travel firms adopting cutting-edge technologies to elevate the luxury travel experience and provide top-notch facilities.

“Innovations such as Oculus Rift for virtual reality, Amazon Echo for artificial intelligence, GoPro for wearable technology, and advanced 3D printing are being introduced to enrich customers’ travel experiences, further propelling the demand in this industry,” according to the report.

Luxury travel to Greece in upscale hotels

On the newly released annual catalog of the best new Luxury Hotels by Luxury Travel Intelligence (LTI), three hotels in Greece ranked in the top 15. The Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, and the Dolli in Athens are among the fifteen best global arrivals of the year.

In 2023, a survey published in the leading US travel site TripAdvisor found that two of the ten best luxury hotels in Europe were in Greece.

According to the list, the best luxury hotel in Europe is Ikos Dassia, located on Corfu. At number 4 on TripAdvisor’s list is Ikos Aria on Kos Island.

Greece is heading for a new record-breaking year in tourism in 2024, industry officials say, pointing to early bookings.

The current trajectory of airline reservations, encompassing both sold tickets and seats allocated by airlines for the upcoming season, indicates a potential tourism surge of up to ten percent in 2024 compared to the remarkable highs achieved in 2023.

“Greece is heading for the highest performance of all time,” in 2024, TUI tourism group’s Head of Communications, Aage Dünhaupt, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

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