As the restrictions were gradually lifted and the influx of tourists to the country’s tourist destinations increased, the number of visitors to museums and archaeological sites also increased.
This is an encouraging sign, as in addition to the increase in direct revenues for museums and archaeological sites, a number of tourism professions, such as tour operators, travel agents, tour guides, etc., also benefit. The stakes are now set to return to pre-pandemic levels, which is directly linked to the number of foreign tourists set to visit the country in the coming years.
It is worth noting that in 2019, the total number of ticketed and free admission visitors to museums and archaeological sites reached a record €20 million. Ticketed visitors exceeded €12.4 million. Moreover, proceeds reached €130.9 million, of which €107.6 million in archaeological sites and €23.3 million in museums. In contrast, in 2020, ticketed visitors decreased to €2.27 million (-81.8%) and proceeds to €21.17 million (-83.8%).
According to data released today by the Hellenic Statistical Authority, during July there was an increase of 203.7% in the number of visitors to museums, 152.6% in the number of visitors with free admission and 263.5% in the respective collections compared to the corresponding month of 2020.
In archaeological sites, during July there was an increase of 171.4% in visitors, 97.5% in visitors with free admission and 250% in collections compared to the same month in 2020.
In total, ticketed visitors to Museums and Archaeological Sites in July amounted to 947,946, an increase of 223%. Correspondingly, proceeds amounted to €10.8 million, an increase of 252.5%.
Furthermore, during the seven-month period, ticketed visitors to Museums and Archaeological Sites increased by 53.2%, reaching €1.58 million, and collections increased by 113.4%, reaching €17.9 million.
More specifically, in the Archaeological Sites, during the seven-month period, there was an increase in visitors by 38.5% compared to the corresponding period of 2020, while there was a decrease by 3.5% in visitors with free admission and an increase by 122% in the corresponding collections, given the suspension of the operation of the Archaeological Sites from 14 March to 17 May 2020 and again from 7 November 2020 to 21 March 2021.
In addition, in the period January – July there was a decrease of 6.3% in the number of museum visitors and 31.5% in the number of visitors with free admission compared to the corresponding period of 2020, while there was an increase of 81.7% in the respective collections, given the suspension of the Museum’s operation from 14 March 2020 to 16 June 2020 and gradually from 1 November 2020 to 13 May 2021, in implementation of the measures taken to deal with the pandemic.
