Greeks went on more trips in 2014
Year-on-year, Greeks spent an additional 7.2 percent on traveling in 2014, when the economy had started to look up, albeit briefly, after six consecutive years of decline.
The report published this week by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) further showed that 3.64 million Greeks made 6.33 million trips in 2014, recording an increase of 15.9 percent and 13.4 percent from 2013. Total nights spent in tourism accommodation or holiday homes came to 63.98 million, up 8.8 percent from the year before.
Of the trips that Greeks made, the vast majority of 94.3 percent concerned traveling for personal reasons, while 5.7 percent was for professional purposes. The number of people traveling for personal reasons increased 17.3 percent year-on-year, and their expenditure rose 11.3 percent.
The biggest increase in the number of trips and the number of travelers concerned the 25-44 age group, with a yearly rise of 18.3 percent and 20.7 percent respectively. The same age group recorded an increase of 10.8 percent in nights spent in hotels and 14 percent in travel expenditure.
Short holidays showed a greater increase than long vacations: The number of trips by Greeks who spent from one to three nights in hotels rose 18.9 percent, with travelers spending 30 percent more, while trips of four to seven nights grew 24 percent, with a 23.4 percent rise in spending. Trips of eight to 14 nights increased just 2.6 percent and those of more than 15 nights expanded 9.9 percent from 2013.
Most personal trips were conducted by car, numbering 4.16 million. Trips by boat came to almost 1 million, by airplane to 653,000 and by train to 75,500. The drop in air fares led to a 45.4 percent rise in air trips, while trips by boat increased 16.9 percent, and by road 12.1 percent. Train trips dropped by 1.5 percent.
The survey also showed that Greek travelers spent most nights (78.9 percent) in non-rented accommodation, such as at holiday homes and the residences of friends or relatives.
