Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki

According to the latest statistics presented by INSETE, in the period January-March 2025, 1.6 million international air arrivals were recorded, exceeding the levels of the corresponding quarter of 2024 by 77,000 or 4.8%.

However, of these arrivals, 73% took place at Athens airport and 24% at Thessaloniki airport and only 3% at the other Regional airports.

Per month, in January, 529 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of +44 thousand/+9.1%. In February, 487 thousand were recorded. international arrivals, showing an increase of +25 thousand/+5.5% and in March 663 thousand, showing a marginal increase of +7 thousand/+1%.

In the period January-March 2025, Athens International Airport recorded 1.2 million international arrivals, showing an increase of +68 thousand/+5.9%, followed by Thessaloniki Airport, with 404 thousand international arrivals, an increase of +33 thousand/+8.9%.

However, the picture is downward in the geographical units. Most international air arrivals were recorded in Crete, with 23 thousand passengers and a decrease of 11 thousand/-32.9% compared to 2024. The Dodecanese followed with 13 thousand. arrivals (-7 thousand / -35.5%) and the Ionian Islands with 3 thousand, showing a decrease of 5 thousand / -58.3%. In the Peloponnese, arrivals amounted to 2 thousand, decreased by 557 passengers / -22.7% while in the Cyclades there were 1 thousand arrivals, with a decrease of 1 thousand / -48.9%.

At the level of individual destinations, Heraklion airport recorded 17 thousand international arrivals, decreased by 8 thousand / -33.2%, while at Chania airport arrivals amounted to 6 thousand, showing a decrease of 3 thousand / -32%.

At Rhodes airport, 13 thousand international arrivals were recorded, recording a decrease of 6 thousand/-32.9%, while Kos airport recorded only 146 international arrivals, showing a decrease of 837 arrivals/-85.1%.

In Corfu, international arrivals amounted to 3 thousand, showing a decrease of 5 thousand/-61.7%. In Santorini, 785 arrivals were recorded, showing a decrease of 983 arrivals/-55.6%.

Finally, Kalamata airport recorded 2 thousand international arrivals, showing a decrease of -557 arrivals/-22.7%.

222,000 short-term rental accommodations in March

At the same time, a steady strengthening of supply is observed in the Greek short-term rental market, reflecting positive expectations for the development of demand during the year.

The first quarter INSETE data from Lighthouse shows that...

- In January, 213 thousand accommodations were recorded, an increase of +23 thousand compared to the 190 thousand in January 2024. In February, available accommodations amounted to 216 thousand, an increase of +20 thousand from the 196 thousand in the corresponding month of 2024.

- In March, 18,000 new short-term rental accommodations were added compared to the corresponding month of 2023, reaching 222 thousand, an increase of +18 thousand compared to the 204 thousand in 2024.

- In January, available beds amounted to 947 thousand, an increase of +101 thousand. compared to 845 thousand in January 2024. In February, 961 thousand beds were recorded, showing an increase of +84 thousand compared to 877 thousand in 2024.

-In March 2025, the number of beds appears to have increased by 75,000 compared to last year, with their total reaching 981 thousand.

-In January, occupancy stood at 14%, marking an increase of 2 percentage points compared to 2024 (12%). In February, the increase was more pronounced, with occupancy reaching 15%, compared to 10% last year (+5 percentage points), while in March, it remained at 17%, at the levels of March 2024.

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