Half of Greeks can't go on summer vacation due to low income

Despite being a top tourist destination in the world, many Greeks are increasingly unable to afford the traditional August holiday.

Greece is one of the world's top tourist destinations.

On a hot summer afternoon at the port of Piraeus, Tassos Papadopoulos still regularly cuts tickets for passengers taking the ferry to the island of Aegina. But unlike last year, the line of cars waiting to board the ferry is much thinner. “Ticket sales have dropped by half,” he sighed.

Aegina, an island just a 40-minute ferry ride from Athens, was once the choice of many families on a tight budget. Last year, it welcomed more than 2 million domestic tourists. But by the summer of 2025, the early morning beach crowds have all but disappeared.

One in two Greeks will not be able to go on holiday this year, according to Takis Kalofonos, chief financial adviser at the Greek Consumer-Employee Confederation (EKKE).

“Ten years ago, summer holidays used to last 20-30 days, now they last less than a week. With an average salary of 1,342 euros, how can many families afford the 450 euros train ticket to the Cyclades?” , he said.

The Eurostat survey also found that 46% of Greeks could not afford a week's holiday, with the majority opting to visit family or meet friends in their villages instead of going to an island.

Tourists take photos and selfies at sunset on Santorini Island, Greece. Photo: Getty Images

“I dream of going to Amorgos, but a room for 200 euros a night is impossible,” said Ismini Balale, 28, a retail worker who earns 850 euros a month. “My friends, who all have postgraduate degrees, can only take a few days off.”

Meanwhile, Greece’s tourism industry is booming. By 2024, the country will welcome 36 million international visitors, four times its population, earning more than 21.7 billion euros. The growth has helped reduce public debt from 180% of GDP to 153.6%. But it has come with consequences: soaring prices for ferry tickets, hotels and services, while domestic wages have stagnated.

Professor Christos Pitelis (University of Southampton) commented: “The Greeks are gradually being excluded from a long-standing cultural and religious tradition. The August holidays, which used to be an occasion for pilgrimages to the sea, are no longer affordable for many people.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government has pledged to raise the average wage to 1,500 euros by 2027 and further cut taxes, but many citizens remain skeptical.

Amorgos Island, Greece. Photo: Getty Images

For many Greeks, the joy of summer vacation has now become a bittersweet memory, while foreign tourists still enjoy the island scenery.

“We are the Thailand of Europe. We provide a service for others to enjoy,” Aris Apikian, a carpet salesman in Athens, said wryly as he watched the flow of tourists passing by his shop.

“Outsiders are living the dream in Greece, while we are worried about skyrocketing electricity and water bills. When even a week off is out of reach, we, the Greek people, are the ones who are losing the most,” said Aris Apikian.

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