Greece experienced a significant influx of tourists from Turkey in 2023, with visitor numbers soaring by 90 percent compared to the previous year.
Turkish arrivals in Greece surged from 478,000 in 2022 to 877,000 in 2023, highlighting a substantial increase in cross-border travel.
In a reciprocal trend, Turkey became the third most sought-after destination for Greek tourists during the same period. The number of Greek visitors to Turkey also rose from 570,000 in 2022 to 686,000 in 2023, marking a 20 percent uptick.
These promising tourism figures were unveiled by Serkan Gedik, the Turkish Consul General in Thessaloniki, during a workshop aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two nations in the tourism sector.
Hosted by the Turkish Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in Greece, the workshop emphasised the potential for growth, particularly in Northern Greece, leveraging the geographical proximity and positive perceptions shared between the two countries.
Turkey, in 2023, welcomed a staggering 56 million tourists, with Istanbul alone attracting 18 million visitors annually. Notably, Cappadocia, renowned as "The Land of Fairy Tales," enticed between 4-5 million tourists each year, celebrated for its natural wonders and captivating hot air balloon rides.
The event underscored the significance of showcasing diverse destinations beyond major cities, with the Turkish Consul General in Thessaloniki emphasising that "Turkey is more than Istanbul, and Greece is more than Athens, Thessaloniki, and the islands."
Read more: Greece tourism
(Source: Iefimerida)