Revenue from American tourists visiting Greece dropped significantly in March 2025, marking a whopping 29.8% decline, according to data released by the Bank of Greece (BoG).
Travel receipts from the United States dropped to €55.7 million—from €79.3 million in the same month last year. Market experts attribute this sharp decline to repeated statements by President Donald Trump about the imposition of steep tariffs, which led to a period of financial volatility and uncertainty.
The Scientific Director at the Institute of SETE (INSETE), Dr. Aris Ikkos, attributed the revenue decline to broader economic developments in the United States. He pointed to a period of financial uncertainty, driven by repeated announcements from former U.S. President Donald Trump about imposing steep tariffs, which caused the so-called “fear index”—a measure reflecting consumer sentiment—to spike. According to Ikkos, this, along with falling stock markets and a weakening dollar against the euro, likely influenced the spending behavior of American travelers.
Despite the negative figures for March, the data still represent a substantial increase regarding American tourists in Greece compared to the €38 million recorded in March 2023. Interestingly, while spending figures dropped, visitor numbers from the U.S. remained strong, suggesting Americans continued to travel but perhaps were more cautious with their budgets.
From January to March 2025, arrivals from the U.S. surged by 16.2%, reaching 188,700 travelers, compared to 162,400 in the same period in 2024 and 86,500 in 2023.
This divergence between robust arrival figures and falling spending raises questions about shifting travel behaviors and potential economic headwinds that could continue to affect the Greek tourism sector.
