George Pelekanakis: “Crete cannot have occupancy rates with 550,000 beds”
Despite the obvious tourist increase recorded in Crete this July – as had been predicted since February – “it is impossible to achieve high occupancy rates when the island has a total of 550,000 beds”, the president of the Greek Hotel Managers, George Pelekanakis, tells ANATOLI.
As he explains, while the increase in hotel beds follows a normal and controlled pace, the big issue lies in the uncontrolled increase in short-term rental accommodation such as Airbnb. “Today, in Crete, over 200,000 hotel beds operate and almost as many more are available for short-term rental”, he emphasizes.
The problem is most pronounced in luxury accommodations, especially in areas such as Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, where five-star hotels dominate. “The inflationary increase in overall availability is leading many businesses to offer offers to fill up, even at the height of the season. This shows the pressure that businesses are under,” Mr. Pelekanakis points out, adding that such practices, although necessary, threaten the viability of the tourism product.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pelekanakis reveals that tourism giants have already started booking packages for 2026, with early indications showing even greater demand compared to 2025. This trend is directly linked to the prospect of the new airport in Kastelli and the strategic decision of large tour operators to strengthen their position in the Cretan market. For example, Jet2 doubled its visitors to the island, from 200,000 to 400,000. “Companies see the potential and are preparing in time for the next phase. The interest is not accidental; it is planned,” he emphasizes.
