The take-off of Greek tourism is revealed by the data on air arrivals published by INSETE, SETE’s research tool for the 10 months January – October 2023. Specifically, in the period January-October 2023, 23.0 million international air arrivals were recorded, exceeding the levels of January-October 2022 and showing an increase of 11.5%. In absolute numbers it means that this year there were 2.4 million additional arrivals. Compared to the period January-October 2019, the increase is estimated at 12%.

Arrivals at the country’s largest airports

In the period January-October 2023, 6.3 million international air arrivals were recorded at Athens International Airport, showing an increase of 28.4%. It was followed by Thessaloniki airport where 2.1 million international air arrivals were recorded, showing an increase of 20.3%. Heraklion airport recorded an increase of 4.7% compared to last year and international air arrivals reached 3.6 million. At Chania airport arrivals reached 1.4 million showing an increase of 8.6%. Rhodes airport recorded 2.6 million international air arrivals showing an increase of 2.9%, Kos airport recorded 1.3 million international arrivals showing an increase of 5.3%, while Karpathos airport recorded 90 thousand international arrivals also showing an increase of 2.7%.

Landing of arrivals in Peloponnese and Cyclades

Air arrivals in the Cyclades and Peloponnese are a unique discrepancy, as during the period under review a small decrease was recorded in these destinations compared to last year. In the Peloponnese specifically, 201 thousand arrivals were recorded, showing a decrease of 3.2% compared to last year. Regarding Cyclades, 1.3 million international air arrivals were recorded, showing a decrease of 7.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Regarding road arrivals for the period January-October 2023, 9.5 million international road arrivals, compared to 7.2 million in the period January-October 2022, showing an increase of +33.1%. In absolute numbers, it means that in the first ten months of the year the country had 2.4 million more road arrivals compared to last year. At this point it should be emphasized that compared to 2019 there is still a 14.4% lag

Travel revenue in the first ten months of 2023

On the travel receipts front, as published by INSETE, it is emphasized that in the period January-September 2023, travel receipts showed an increase of 15.2% compared to the corresponding period of 2022 and amounted to 17,919 million euros. But the most important element is that compared to the same period of 2019, an increase of 11.3% in travel receipts is recorded. This development is due to the increase in receipts from residents of EU-27 countries by 11.7%, which amounted to 9,982 million euros, as well as receipts from residents of non-EU-27 countries by 18.3%, which amounted to 7,459 million euros.

Greece and competitor hotel quality indicators – October 2023

In October 2023, Greece ranks first in the general satisfaction index (GRI) of hotels with 86%. In second place is Cyprus with 85% and in third place Italy and Spain with 84% respectively. It is followed by Turkey with 83% while in the last place was France with 78%.

Why the Peloponnese and the Cyclades lagged behind this year compared to last year

“Kalamata airport attracted fewer flights compared to 2022 and this is the reason for the small drop recorded this year” notes Dimitris Pollalis, president of the Laconia Hotel Association. In fact, he speaks of a lack of strategy on the front of the agreements with the airline companies, stressing that in these posts there should be people who know the subject and the needs of the market.

In any case, it is very encouraging that the Thessaloniki-Kalamata air connection has contributed to the strengthening of domestic tourism, as he explains. During this period, the hoteliers of the Peloponnese are in constant contact with the Region in order not to lose valuable ground for 2024 and to boost the communication image of the Peloponnese in foreign markets. Finally, with regard to the Cyclades and specifically at the airports of the two emblematic destinations of the country, Mykonos and Santorini, these recorded a decrease in air arrivals of 5.2% and 8.6% respectively. Officials on the islands are focusing on the late start of the tourist season this year, which they say affected the final result.