Cultural Tourism in Greece at a Time of Economic Crisis

A significant decline in visitor numbers to Greek archaeological sites and museums, including the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeological Museum, was observed during the economic crisis. Despite the opening of the New Acropolis Museum in 2009 attracting over a million visitors initially, numbers dropped by 7.1% from 2009 to 2010. The study highlights that while museum visits stabilized between 2008 and 2012, overall visitor numbers decreased significantly compared to pre-crisis levels. The economic downturn also exacerbated illegal looting, with substantial seizures of antiquities reported, while restoration efforts on the Athenian Acropolis improved visitor experiences. The research underscores the impact of economic crises on cultural tourism, archaeological fieldwork, and the preservation of heritage sites.

Gill, D. W. J. (2013). Cultural Tourism in Greece at a Time of Economic Crisis. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 1(3), 233–242. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.1.3.0233