Australians, Canadians and Americans are increasingly choosing Greece as one of their favorite so-called long-haul travel destinations for holidays, according to data by the Greek Research and Policy Institute for the Tourism Sector, INSETE, reaffirming the surge in the domestic tourism sector.
INSETE released the second part of its study, entitled “The profile of significant markets in Greek tourism,” which covers the major non-European markets, specifically the USA, Canada, China, India and Australia.
The study, utilizing online research conducted by GlobalWebIndex (GWI) between January and February 2024 on consumer preferences and intentions about prospective visitors to Greece, showed that in the next 12 months, Greece ranks 10th for the Australian market (with 10%), 11th for the Canadian market (with 8%), and 12th for the US market (with 9%), all for long-haul travel.
“Enjoyment and relaxation” were the primary motivations for travel for the majority, ranging from 53% of Indians to 67% of Australians, followed by the “desire to experience a new place or culture”, with percentages ranging from 43% to nearly 50%. For the Chinese, the order is reversed, with 44% citing the experience of a new place or culture as their primary motivation, followed by enjoyment/relaxation at 42%.
Regarding the types of holidays abroad or vacation preferences over the next 12 months for the studied markets, it is noteworthy that “Sun and Sea” vacations, highly preferred in Greece, do not monopolize preferences. Trips to landmarks or nature trips also stand out, especially for Indian and Chinese holiday-makers.
In terms of how much money they intended to spend on their vacations over the next 12 months, the dominant response in the United States, Canada, and Australia was that they would be spending as much as they usually do, with Indians responding they intended to spend more.
