Record tourist arrivals at Evros Border Crossings in the first 11 months of 2024
Tourist traffic at Evros border crossings surged significantly between January and November 2024, with crossings from Kiprinos increasing by an extraordinary 177%, from Kipi by 25.8%, and from Ormenio by 12%.
Highlights of the Record Surge
The latest data from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises reveals that total road arrivals in Greece reached 11.4 million, up from 9.5 million in the same period in 2023—an increase of 15% or 1.9 million arrivals. This growth even surpassed pre-pandemic levels from 2019, underlining the importance of road tourism as a significant contributor to travel revenues.
Seasonal Trends
While the first quarter of 2024 began with an increase, April saw a decline, only for numbers to recover in the summer months.
June: 1.5 million arrivals (+14.5%)
July: 2.3 million arrivals (+13.9%)
August: 2.5 million arrivals (+14.5%)
Growth persisted into autumn, with October recording 569,000 arrivals (+4.6%) and November 577,000 (+39.4%).
Border Crossing Insights
Kipi (Evros): 1.1 million arrivals (+25.8%)
Kiprinos (Evros): 358,000 arrivals (+177.4%)
Ormenio (Evros): 703,000 arrivals (+12.2%)
Promachonas (Serres): 2.8 million arrivals (+9.9%)
Evzoni (Kilkis): 2.4 million arrivals (+10%)
Countries of Origin
Key markets included Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, and North Macedonia. Among these, Bulgaria saw the largest absolute increase (+19.5%, 5.1 million arrivals), while Türkiye posted the highest percentage rise (+29.5%, 1.4 million arrivals).
The Kiprinos Phenomenon
The dramatic rise at the Kiprinos crossing can be attributed to Bulgaria’s social tourism program. Bulgarian tourists, staying in nearby Ivaylovgrad, frequently crossed into Greece, boosting local businesses in the northern Evros region.
For example, in May 2024, Kiprinos recorded 32,355 arrivals, compared to just 6,228 in May 2023—a staggering 419.5% increase. Greek expatriates visiting their hometowns also contributed to the vitality of the region, albeit temporarily.
This influx highlights the potential of cross-border initiatives and road tourism in revitalizing underdeveloped regions.
