Greece Among Top 5 Holiday Destinations, Says Hospitality Giant Accor

Greece is in the top 5 Southern Europe holiday destinations for those planning getaways this year, with Athens also listed among the top ‘shoulder season’ picks, according to French hospitality giant Accor.

According to Accor’s 2024 European trends report, intra-European travel is set to be huge this year with 86 percent of Europeans surveyed planning to spend on at least one trip to Europe.

Greece was the fourth most frequently cited destination for European travel by participants – tying with Portugal – with 13 percent of people surveyed saying they are planning to visit the country this year.

Spain was at the top of the list with nearly one in four people (23 percent) planning to take a trip there, followed by Italy (18 percent) and France (16 percent). Completing the top 10 are Germany (11 percent), the UK (8 percent), the Netherlands (7 percent), Austria (7 percent) and Belgium (7 percent).

The French hospitality company’s report showed that the top shoulder-season holiday destinations (period of time between a region’s peak season and offseason) for 2024 include Athens, Greece, Florence, Italy, Seville, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal and Naples, Italy.

In reference to the Greek capital, Accor’s report says “From the Acropolis to the Parthenon, the rich history of Athens is a treat to behold at any time of year. But the city boasts a more youthful side, with a laid-back café culture and art galleries helping to occupy local Athenians and tourists alike.”

With regard to long-haul travel, 16 percent of respondents in Europe said they plan to vacation in North or Central America, 16 percent in Asia and 10 percent in Africa. The report also details that many holidaymakers will be avoiding peak season due to either cost, or concerns around extreme heat.

The reports breaks down this split, stating that one in three Europeans (32 percent) will take a holiday outside peak season to reduce costs, while one in five (19 percent) expect to do so to avoid the risk of heat waves.

Around 17 percent of Europeans plan to head off on solo trips in 2024, while one in 10 travelers (9 percent) say they will take their pets with them; those from Poland are most likely to do so according to the report (12 percent), followed by Spain (11 percent).

Greece Set for new Record with Holiday Bookings

Greece is heading for a new record year for 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 10 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).