According to the research data of the tourism observatory, the majority of the visitors who came to Crete for the summer holidays are of a high income level and of middle age.

The investigation was carried out at the Chania “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” airport, until August 20.

According to the research so far it was recorded8% increase in tourist traffic compared to the corresponding period of 2022 and is attributed to the “return” of Scandinavian tourists to Western Crete.

In particular, among the Scandinavians, the Norwegians recorded the greatest increase with 30%, followed by Swedes and Finns with 6% and 4% increases, respectively, while on the contrary the Danes recorded a decrease of 2.4%.

The main reasons tourists visit Western Crete in order of ranking are:

1. The provision of services,

2. The quality of accommodation at the beach facilities,

3. The tranquility of holidays that the island offers,

4. The beaches and in general the landscape and the environment,

5. Cretan gastronomy

The profile of other tourists

Regarding the main non-Scandinavian ethnicities, Poles and Germans are the ones that note the highest percentages of increases with 11% and 8%, respectively, while the Britishwhich continue and remain in first place in terms of total arrivals, register a drop of around 2% compared to last year.

Regarding the rest of the ethnicities, increases are observed Romanians, Austrians and Cyprus with double-digit growth rates compared to the corresponding period last year, while we also have the attraction of new markets, since for the first time foreign visitors from Luxembourg are visiting Western Crete. The survey records a high percentage of 55% of foreign tourists visiting Western Crete for the first time.

The average income level of visitors ranges between 70,000 – 80,000 euros while in 2019 it was between 45,000 – 60,000 euros. This increase, which was also observed in the last year, is mainly due to tourists from the United Kingdom and Germany, but also from the particular increase in foreign tourists coming from the countries of America, Canada and Australia, who are also of a very high income profile. It is noteworthy that 1/3 of the visitors to our area declare an income of over 100,000 Euros.

The average expenditure of visitors for catering is 500 Euro, for product purchases 251, while the expenditure for renting a vehicle is consistently over 315 Euro.

Regarding the age categories, the restoration of tourists aged 45-55 continues compared to the two previous years 2021 and 2022 and thus approaching 2019 season levels, with the arrival of visitors from all age groups.

Nine out of ten foreign tourists would not only wish to visit West Crete again, but would recommend it unreservedly to relatives and friends. Also, one in three foreign visitors state that they would visit the region during the winter season as well if there was a direct response from their city, which highlights the potential of the destination to extend the tourist season.

Almost 2 out of 3 foreign visitors holiday with their spouse/partner, while family holidays with children have started to recover.

Where do they live

Large again this year is the percentage of foreign tourists who prefer short-term rentals AirBnBsince about 15% of visitors choose to stay in such accommodations.

The hotelsremain at the top of tourists’ preferences, with more than half of them choosing them, while almost two out of three tourists prefer 4- and 5-star luxury hotels.

The villas after the doubling of supply observed in the period 2019-21 they have steadily reached their percentage above 7%. The average overnight stay in tourist accommodation is again over 9 nights this year.

What they do – what they eat – what they complain about

The visitors of Western Crete choose the beaches mainly of Elafonisi but also those of Balos and Falasarna, while an equally significant number of tourists visit monasterieschurches, museums and Archaeological Sites.

With regard to local food products, the foreign tourist is very satisfied with the quality characteristics of these products, while this year he seems to make larger purchases than other years as well as a variety of products. For the first time olive oil along with the local ones cheeses rise to the top two places of foreign tourists’ preferences with wine coming in third place. They show particular momentum this year Cretan honey as well as natural orange juice.

Almost half of foreign tourists would be interested in alternative forms of tourism, six out of ten believe that tourist accommodations carry out actions that are environmentally friendly, while the majority of foreign visitors were satisfied with the available online information regarding the services offered, infrastructure, attractions and various activities during their vacation in the area, with room for further improvement.

Foreign tourists continue to express the dissatisfaction them about his bad condition road network and marking, while the waste collection and collection system needs further upgrading, as there is also a strong use of plastics mainly in the city of Chania.

Also, especially this year, due to the largest wave of tourists the region has ever received, dissatisfaction and concern about the lack of available parking spaces and the traffic congestion mainly in the city of Chania is strongly expressed.