Record-Breaking Tourism Growth for Greek Islands in 2024

From January to July 2024, Greece welcomed 14.4 million international air passengers—a notable 8.2% increase over the same period in 2023, equating to an additional 1.1 million visitors.

Leading the surge among the Greek islands was Crete, which attracted 2.9 million international air travelers, an increase of 6.7% or 182,000 more visitors than the previous year. The Dodecanese islands also saw remarkable growth, with an 11.4% increase bringing their total to 2.4 million arrivals.

The Ionian Islands welcomed 104,000 additional visitors, a 5.3% rise to reach 2.1 million international arrivals. The Peloponnese region experienced a 12% growth, attracting 122,000 tourists, which is 13,000 more than in the same timeframe last year.

Contrastingly, the Cyclades, home to popular spots like Mykonos and Santorini, saw a modest decline of 2.4%, with 17,000 fewer tourists compared to 2023.

The boost in international air travel was accompanied by a significant rise in road arrivals, which totaled 6.3 million from January to July 2024—a 13.8% increase involving 762,000 more visitors. The most notable growth rates came from Bulgaria (16.4%), Turkey (38.4%), and North Macedonia (11.0%), though arrivals from Albania dropped slightly by 1.7%.

Tourism spending followed suit, rising by 12.2% to €6,921 million in the first half of 2024. This growth was primarily driven by EU visitors, whose spending increased by 14.8%, and non-EU visitors, up by 8.4%. German tourists led the spending at €1,223 million (+7.4%), with UK visitors contributing €1,009 million (+19.9%). American travelers’ expenditures grew modestly by 1.0% to €540 million.

Short-term rental options expanded, reaching 232,000 accommodations—a growth of 20,000 from July 2023. Although the total number of available beds saw a steady rise of 85,000 in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, the growth rate decelerated in July, suggesting the market may be approaching saturation.

This upsurge in tourist arrivals and spending highlights Greece’s enduring allure as a premier travel destination. With the momentum expected to persist, regions such as Crete, the Dodecanese, and the Ionian Islands are set for a prosperous tourist season ahead.

Source: GCT–Bill Kouras