A record number of British and foreign tourists visited Greece last year despite raging devastating wildfires and records temperatures of more than 45C.
Bank of Greece figures show UK holidaymaker numbers increased nearly three percent to more than 4.5 million travellers, beating a previous record set in 2022.
And tourists from Britain contributed more than £2.8billion to the Greek economy, up by nearly six percent in a year, adding to a huge £17billion contributed by all EU and non-EU tourists.
Greek-heritage Australians contributed to one of the biggest increases in visitors from outside of Europe, bolstered by nearly a third more people coming from the US.
Like the famous 1930s Kipling-inspired Noël Coward song, “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”, it seems sunseekers from the UK were determined not to let natural disasters stop them from taking a holiday.
And the Greeks are definitely not shy from inviting us back this year. Last month the Greek Finance Ministry said it was launching a Rhodes Pass, giving free accommodation to tourists affected by the wild fires on the island in 2023.
According to local reports, holidaymakers who were evacuated in July 2023 could claim a free seven-night stay from March 15 to May 15 and from October 1 to November 15 this year.
LBC reports Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the pledge last year. As the emergency unfolded he said: “For all those whose holiday was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government, in co-operation with local authorities, will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes, next spring, next fall, so that we make sure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty.”
Around 20,000 British visitors to the island of Rhodes had their trips affected by the fires, but according to site Travel Gossip UK carrier Jet2holidays has reported strong bookings again for Rhodes this summer.
The extreme heat in Greece in 2023 was part of a Europe-wide event that saw multiple countries smash record temperatures. In the Greek capital of Athens fires could be seen raging from the historic Parthenon when temperatures went above 45C.
In the town of Gytheio, a roasting temperature of 46.4C was recorded by the World Meteorological Organisation. Euronews reports approximately half-a-million acres of land, around two percent of the Greek landmass, was destroyed by fire.
