With over a million tourists expected to visit from the US this year, business owners in Greece are preparing for what they’re hoping will be a record breaking season.

According to forecasts by tourism professionals, an increased number of direct flights from the US to Greece will lead to a record number of arrivals from North America. According to the Greek press, more than 56 weekly direct flights have already been planned from the US and Canada, with both the Tourism Ministry and industry bodies pressing on with efforts to improve this number further.

That is expected to translate into record takings for Greek business owners, with many identifying US tourists as some of the highest spenders visiting Greece.

“American tourists spend big and tip big, and they are a massive help to local businesses when they visit our country,” Nikos Babalis, a waiter who works at a beach resort in Mykonos, told The Pappas Post.

But it’s not just on the islands that Americans are spending their tourism dollars. More than ever, Americans are spending more time in Athens and not just using it as a stopover to Mykonos and Santorini.

In the hip inner Athens suburb of Koukaki, Americans can be found eating out and sipping on cocktails year-round.

“For the months of September and October 2022, it was clear that confidence in travel for Americans was in full swing. With occupancy rates soaring at 97%, American travelers were our top international guests at Cohort in Koukaki last fall,” Themi Psaltopoulos, Head of Community at The Cohort, told The Pappas Post.

He says 2023 looks extremely promising, with many “eager travelers from the US already securing their accommodation for Spring/Summer 2023.”