A recent study by Greece’s Institute of Retail Consumer Goods (IELKA) has revealed that half of all Greeks will not be taking a vacation this summer.
Once a staple of modern Greek culture that saw major cities progressively empty as summer holidays approached, vacationing is now a luxury the majority can’t afford.
According to IELKA, for Greeks actually planning to travel, 34% say that their holidays will be significantly restricted, leaving only a fortunate 14% who will get to spend their summer exactly as they have always done.
Holiday duration is also changing, with 42% of Greek vacationers scheduling vacations of 4 to 7 days, 29% vacationing for 8 to 14 days, 11% vacationing for 15 to 30 days, 9% heading off for even longer vacations, while 8% are taking micro-breaks of just 1 to 3 days.
The reason behind this dramatic shift is primarily financial. Most respondents blamed both their decreased disposable income (62%) and the surging cost of travel tickets (62%) as most negatively affecting their vacation. Affordability is further exacerbated by the inflated costs of dining out (57%), vehicle fuel costs (53%), and accommodation costs (46%).
To try and make the most of their limited budgets, Greeks are pinching pennies and but also fundamentally altering how they vacation.
The research shows a major shift away from traditionally popular islands, with 57% of holidaymakers choosing coastal destinations on mainland Greece to avoid expensive ferry tickets. In fact, only 38% of vacationing Greeks will venture out to the islands. Another 11% are heading away from commercialized coastal and island resorts, opting for Greece’s cooler mountain destinations instead. Finally, 9% of Greeks are vacationing abroad.
Greek vacationers are also largely avoiding traditional hotels, favouring self-catered or free lodging instead. The most popular choices are staying either in rented rooms (35%), their own country houses (35%), or relying on the philoxenia of their friends and relatives (18%). Furthermore, 8% of Greeks continue to choose camping as an alternative, low-cost holiday solution. A mere 4% opt for all-inclusive hotels.
Because dining out has become expensive, vacationers often cook their own meals (41%). For their supplies, Greeks shop at large supermarket chains (66%), local grocery stores (48%) and mini markets (41%), bakeries (68%), greengrocers (31%) and local butchers (18%).
Despite these strict budget cuts, supporting their local economies continues to remain a priority for Greek vacationers, with 62% of respondents preferring to purchase local products during their stays.
