Lesvos is evolving into one of the most popular destinations for visitors from Turkey, as 100,000 arrivals and 26,000 visas were recorded by the end of September 2025, confirming the rapid growth of the Turkish market. According to Panagiotis Hadjikyriakos, President of the Lesvos Travel and Tourism Agents Association, the facilitation and faster visa application process were a decisive factor in maintaining this strong tourist flow.
In 2024, Turkish tourist arrivals had reached 125,000, with 30,000 visas, making this year another step of steady and sustainable growth. Mr. Hadjikyriakos explains that the short-term visa policy enhances cross-border mobility and consolidates relations between the two countries, while contributing to the economic empowerment of the local community.
The increased demand from Turkey is accompanied by longer stays and higher tourist spending. Turkish visitors choose Lesvos for short getaways and authentic experiences, while many return every year, creating a steady stream of repeat travelers.
Panagiotis Hadjikyriakos, President of the Lesvos Travel and Tourism Agents Association
The President of the Association emphasizes that the Turkish market has acquired strategic importance for Lesvos, not only for the volume of arrivals, but also for its continuous presence throughout the year. This activity, as he underlines, strengthens catering, hospitality and local trade businesses, increasing the diffusion of income into the local economy.
In order to maintain this positive trend, Mr. Hadjikyriakos highlights the need to strengthen port infrastructure and ferry connections with the Turkish coast, as well as to further digitize the visa process. These interventions, he adds, could transform Lesvos into a model destination for cross-border tourism in the Aegean.
Lesvos seems ready to fully exploit this potential. As Panagiotis Hadjikyriakos characteristically notes, “the visa is not just an administrative procedure, it is the bridge that unites two peoples, two cultures and a common tourism perspective in the Aegean.”
