Greece’s Ministry of Culture unveiled a new nationwide survey titled “Upgrading Services at Archaeological Sites and Their Impact on Society,” conducted by the research firm Pulse. It is the first study of its kind in the cultural sector to measure public satisfaction with policies and services at historical and archaeological locations.

Presented at the amphitheater of the National Gallery – Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens, the survey shows exceptionally high approval ratings, with more than 70% of respondents expressing satisfaction with the Ministry’s policies and projects.

Conducted between September 14 and October 1, 2025, the study found that 73% of both regular and occasional visitors believe Greece’s monuments and archaeological sites make a meaningful contribution to the quality of their everyday lives.

What the Survey Measured

The research examined:

  • Public attitudes toward cultural heritage
  • Accessibility and ease of visiting heritage sites
  • Availability and clarity of information
  • Cleanliness and maintenance
  • Ticket pricing
  • Staff behavior and knowledge
  • Overall quality of visitor services

Its goal was to assess the Ministry of Culture’s existing initiatives and help guide the planning of future improvements.

A Representative Look at Public Opinion

According to the Ministry, this is the first cultural satisfaction survey based on a statistically representative sample, with 1,062 Greek adults participating. Officials say the study marks a shift toward a more technocratic, transparent, and accountable approach to cultural policy — one shaped directly by citizens’ views.

Pulse CEO Sarantis Dimitriou and Pulse General Director Giorgos Arapoglou presented the key findings.

Key Findings: Improvement Across All Indicators

During the presentation, Arapoglou emphasized a striking trend:

“The most interesting element is that all indicators — even the most difficult ones — are above 50% among regular visitors. And what’s more important is that they show significant, verified improvement over time compared to past results.”

The survey also explored how important respondents consider archaeological sites, monuments, and museums to their overall quality of life:

  • 54% said they contribute fairly to very much.
  • When adding those who answered “moderately,” the total rises to 77%.

This positive perception is consistent across every region of Greece.

Economic Impact: Strong National Consensus

Respondents were even more emphatic about the economic value of cultural heritage:

  • 73% rated its contribution to Greece’s economic development as fairly to very important.
  • 90% rated it at least moderately important.

Arapoglou underscored this point:

“Virtually all of Greek society recognizes the significance of archaeological sites for the country’s economic development, regardless of whether someone is a regular or occasional visitor.”

Visitor Experience: Access, Cleanliness, Hours, Pricing

The survey indicates that Greeks now visit archaeological sites, museums, and monuments throughout the year — not only during peak tourist seasons.

Accessibility

A long-standing concern in previous decades, accessibility is now viewed positively by most respondents.

Cleanliness

More than 50% gave cleanliness high ratings, and 80% rated it moderate to high.

Operating Hours

Once a major source of frustration, operating hours now show substantial improvement.

Ticket Prices

  • 31% gave ticket prices high marks.
  • 65% rated them moderate or higher.

Arapoglou noted that regular visitors tend to rate pricing more favorably than occasional visitors.

Staff Knowledge and Service

The overall opinion of site staff is both positive and improved since January:

  • 56% rated staff knowledge and service highly.
  • 77% gave average to high ratings.
  • Among regular visitors:
    • 61% rated staff behavior highly
    • 84% rated it medium to high

Cultural Heritage as an Economic Driver

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stressed that this is the first time the Ministry has conducted a nationwide survey specifically for cultural evaluation:

“We are introducing technocratic thinking and a logic of accountability. We are asking society to evaluate what we do well and what needs improvement.”

She referenced socioeconomic studies showing that every 1 euro invested in culture yields 3.44 euros in return.
According to Mendoni:

“Culture holds emotional value, but it is also an economic process that requires evaluation. The idea that ticket costs are a barrier is not reflected in reality. ELSTAT data show a significant rise in free-entry tickets, proving that expansion policies have had a positive impact. Culture is a social good, but it is also an economic sector — and sustainable management benefits society.”

A National Effort to Modernize Cultural Infrastructure

Since 2019, the Ministry of Culture has been implementing the largest cultural infrastructure program in Greece, including:

  • Over 850 projects across the country
  • More than €1.3 billion in total funding

A major part of this modernization was the 2020 transformation of the Archaeological Resources Fund into ODAP, a new agency responsible for visitor services. Since then, ODAP has opened new gift shops, cafés, and upgraded amenities, resulting in a significant increase in revenue per visitor.