Russian tourists’ interest in Greece increases in 2025
With the summer season approaching, the demand for Schengen visas from Russian tourists has skyrocketed, recording a 50% increase compared to spring 2024. Tour operators confirm that Greece is among the top choices of Russian visitors, along with Italy, France and Spain.
According to reports from major tourism organizations, Greece’s beach resorts remain particularly attractive. Tourists choose our country not only for its natural beauty and climate but also because of the relatively more affordable visa procedure compared to other EU countries.
Why is the demand for travel to Greece increasing? The increased demand is attributed to several factors:
- Postponement of travel: Many Russians who postponed their trips due to restrictions in previous years are now planning to visit Europe.
- Strengthening of the ruble: The stronger ruble makes travel to the E.U. more affordable.
- New air routes: Although flights from Russia to Europe are made via third countries, the increase in available routes with competitive prices is boosting demand.
- Visa availability: Although the visa process remains demanding, travel agents report that Greece has a higher availability of appointments for submitting documents compared to France, Italy, and Spain. According to Russian Express, the document review for a Greek visa takes an average of 2 weeks.
Challenges and advice for travelers
The increased demand for Schengen visas has led to significant delays in processing applications, especially in Italy, where processing times have doubled. Tour operators advise travelers to submit their applications as early as possible and to avoid non-refundable reservations on flights and hotels until they have secured their visas.
Based on the current situation, Greece is a destination that remains accessible to Russian tourists, boosting the prospects of the Greek tourism industry for 2025.
Source:
tornosnews.gr
https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/tourism-businesses/markets/51409-russian-tourists%E2%80
