‘Holiday poverty’ spreads across Europe as Greeks stay home | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleDerek GatopoulosWednesday 27 August 2025 11:01 BSTPeople arrive by bus at Avlaki beach about 26 miles east of Athens, Greece (AP)Holiday poverty, a term coined by labour unions, is increasingly affecting Europeans, as rising costs make traditional summer breaks unaffordable.Despite Greece's booming tourism industry, which expects foreign arrivals to be up to four times the country's population, many Greeks are unable to afford holidays.European Union data shows that almost half of Greeks could not afford a one-week holiday in 2024, the second-highest rate in the bloc after Romania.This disparity is driven by surging prices and slow wage growth, forcing many Greeks to resort to day trips, packing their own food, and using public transport instead of traditional vacations.Similar concerns are emerging across Europe, with Italian beachgoers, for instance, complaining about soaring prices for basic amenities like sun loungers and umbrellas.In fullMillions of tourists head to Greece for their holidays. Greeks are staying at homeThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in