Olga Kefalogianni, speaking on ERT, mentioned a spectacular 65% increase in revenue from tourism during the first quarter of 2026.
The Minister of Tourism pointed out that Athens has evolved into a city break destination, linked tourism to addressing the demographic problem, spoke about cooperation between Greece and France in tourism, and also referred to political developments.
The Minister of Tourism, in an interview with ERT, referring to the performance of Greek tourism, emphasized that official figures for the first quarter of 2026 show a 65% increase in tourism revenue. “2025 was the best tourism year ever. For the first time, we saw a greater increase in revenue than in arrivals, a fact that indicates an improvement in quality indicators and average revenue per visitor,” she noted.
At the same time, he pointed out that Greece is recording increased tourist traffic both in the early months and at the end of the year, a fact that demonstrates that the tourist season is expanding. “Our goal is year-round tourism. Greece remains a destination associated with the sun and the sea, but we also want to highlight other experiences it offers year-round,” she noted, speaking about mountainous Greece and the tourism opportunities it offers.
At the same time, Olga Kefalogianni made special mention of Athens’ evolution as a tourist destination, saying that “About 15 years ago, Athens was essentially off the tourist map. Today, it is a city break destination, and visitors choose to stay in the city to enjoy the experience it offers.”
The minister emphasized that the capital must remain welcoming to both residents and visitors, while noting that since early 2025, a “brake” has been applied to the creation of new short-term rental properties in central Athens. He emphasized that the government intervenes wherever instances of overtourism are identified. “In Santorini, we saw increased pressure from cruise ships and took measures, such as the cruise ship fee, part of which is returned to the local community,” he said. As he explained, the ministry’s strategy is based on striking a balance between tourism development, environmental protection, and support for local communities.
Speaking about the “Tourism for All” program, which, as he said, aims both to boost domestic tourism and to support lesser-known destinations, he noted that the voucher ranges from 200 to 600 euros, depending on the beneficiary category and the vacation period, and that the program will run from September 2026 through December 2027. Special provisions are in place for people with disabilities and large families. “We are providing an additional 50 euros for each child in large families, while people with a disability of 67% or higher are automatically included in the program,” she said.
Linking tourism to addressing the demographic problem
The Minister of Tourism, linked tourism to addressing the demographic problem, noting that regions with strong tourism activity show better demographic performance. “We see that in Crete and the South Aegean, the demographic situation is stabilizing. This is not unrelated to the fact that the local economies rely heavily on tourism,” she noted.
In addition, he emphasized that the ministry’s strategic goal is to spread the benefits of tourism throughout the country and particularly in mountainous regions, in order to create new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. “The first campaign for mountainous Greece aims to support local communities and encourage young people to stay in their hometowns,” she emphasized.
Greek-French Cooperation in Tourism
Referring to her recent visit to Paris, Ms. Kefalogianni revealed that a bilateral cooperation agreement between Greece and France in the tourism sector had been signed, noting that “France is the world’s leading tourist destination and does not often sign such agreements. This cooperation is of particular value to Greece.” At the same time, he pointed out that the ministry is now utilizing artificial intelligence tools to analyze tourism data and predict potential pressures on destinations. “In September, we will present the initial results of a study that will allow us to anticipate problems before they arise,” he noted.
On New Democracy’s goal of winning an outright majority, Alexis Tsipras, and Antonis Samaras
Olga Kefalogianni, referring to New Democracy’s goal of winning a majority in the upcoming elections, said that it is a difficult but entirely realistic goal. “Citizens are calling for stable governance, efficiency, and a concrete plan. New Democracy has proven that it can offer security and solutions to everyday problems,” she said.
Regarding Alexis Tsipras, the Minister of Tourism emphasized that he has every right to return to the political scene, noting, however, that “he is not emerging into a political vacuum,” as citizens are aware of and have already judged his time in government.
Responding to the possibility of Antonis Samaras forming a new political party, Ms. Kefalogianni emphasized that the country needs stability and not further fragmentation of the political landscape, noting in particular that “whenever the party was united, the results were the best.”
