Increased by 30.4%, compared to 2022, was the number of international road arrivals last year in our country with the border station of Promachona recording the most road crossings.

Apart from the fact that a percentage of road arrivals correspond to Greeks returning from their trip to neighboring countries, the 2023 data showed a significant recovery of road tourism with the regions of Northern Greece (Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, Pieria, Kavala, Thassos etc.) to welcome the majority of tourists.

According to the annual report of the INSETE of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), in the period January-December 2023, 10.4 million international road arrivals were recorded, compared to 8.0 million in the corresponding period of 2022, showing an increase of 2, 4 million/+30.4%.

Arrivals per station

In 2023, all border stations showed an increase compared to 2022. In particular, Promachona station saw the biggest increase in absolute differences by +1.1 million/+72.6% with road arrivals amounting to 2, 7 million while the largest percentage increase of +97 thousand/+83.4% was recorded at the Kastania station in Evros where 214 thousand road arrivals were recorded. On the contrary, the lowest percentage increase of +4 thousand/+3.3% was at Kyprinos station with 135 thousand road arrivals.

At Evzoni station, arrivals reached 2.3 million, registering an increase of +153 thousand/+7.1%. International road arrivals at this first pair of stations correspond to 47.6% of the total. Specifically, Promachona station received 25.5% of incoming road arrivals in 2023 and Evzoni station 22.1%.

Kipi border station followed with +298 thousand /+44.8% and road arrivals amounting to 962 thousand and a share of 9.2%. Next are the stations of Krystallopigi and Ormenios with road arrivals at 737 thousand and 666 thousand, marking an increase of +67 thousand/+10.0% and +163 thousand/+32.4% respectively.
Kakavia station with 616 thousand had an increase of +50 thousand/+8.8% and Nymfaia station with 537 thousand arrivals and an increase of +61 thousand/+12.9%. At Niki station road arrivals amounted to 476 thousand showing an increase of +166 thousand/+53.6% and in Exokhi the increase amounted to +121 thousand/+50.5% with road arrivals amounting to 360 thousand . An increase of +8.7%/+25 thousand was recorded at Doirani station, while 313 thousand road arrivals were recorded.

An increase last year was also recorded by all the neighboring countries, with Bulgaria taking the lead in terms of absolute differences by +1.5 million /+50.6% as there were 4.5 million road arrivals. Turkey’s apparent rise was also reflected in the numbers with 1.2 million road arrivals and the increase amounting to +395 thousand and a percentage difference also to +50.6%, compared to 2022.

North Macedonia is next with 3.1 million road arrivals and an increase of +344 thousand/+12.5%.

Finally, the increase from Albania amounted to +200 thousand/+13.2% while 1.7 million road arrivals were recorded.