The strategic importance of the “Express Visa” program for boosting tourism, mainly in the islands of the North Aegean, is highlighted in an extensive report by the international tourism media FTN News, characterizing it as a catalyst for the revitalization of destinations that until recently remained outside the mainstream tourist stream.
According to the publication, while traditional tourist destinations such as Santorini are recording a decrease in bookings, islands such as Chios, Samos and Lesvos are seeing a spectacular increase in arrivals, mainly from Turkey. The “Express Visa” – a special program that allows a seven-day stay for tourists from Turkey with an entry permit issued upon arrival – has become a key tool for attracting visitors, especially at a time when the issuance of regular Schengen visas is becoming increasingly difficult.
The program, which was extended in 2025 by a decision of the European Commission, now covers 12 Greek islands: Chios, Lesvos, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Leros, Symi, Kastellorizo, Limnos, Patmos, and Samothrace, giving a significant boost to their tourism.
Chios is the star – Significant benefits for local communities
According to George Mylonadis, president of the Homeric Chios Hoteliers Association, the implementation of the “Express Visa” has significantly enhanced the duration of the tourist season, which now reaches six to seven months. “We see increased tourist flow even in winter from Turkey,” he notes characteristically.
Official data confirms the trend: in Chios alone, over 195,000 travelers arrived from Cesme in 2024, of which more than 25,000 used the express visa. In total, passengers who traveled by ferry between Turkey and the Greek islands exceeded 2.3 million.
Patmos: From a stable relationship, a strategic opportunity
Patmos is another destination with a dynamic presence in the neighboring market. As Eleftherios Pentes, former mayor of the island, explains, joining the program was not a random choice, but “recognition of an existing relationship and dynamic that had long been asking to be properly utilized.”
He lists the advantages of the measure:
- It simplifies the entry process, without the need to issue a visa through a consulate.
- It opens the market to the middle class and families.
- It strengthens tourism traffic outside the season, spring and autumn.
- It creates economic benefits for local businesses, as visitors are not limited to all-inclusive models, but support local consumption.
- A steady course until 2026 – New impetus ahead of Ramadan
The program has already been extended until March 2026, while demand is increasing significantly ahead of the Ramadan period, which is a “tourist milestone” for the Turkish market. The islands of the Eastern Aegean, with the competitive advantage of proximity and lower prices compared to similar Turkish destinations such as Bodrum and Cesme, are emerging as key players this summer.
The “Express Visa” is proving to be not only a tool for facilitating tourism but also a mechanism for local development that is repositioning the islands of the Northern and Eastern Aegean on the international tourism map.
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