Greek tourism is picking up speed, developing quantitative and qualitative indicators, as reflected in recent data on international air arrivals, travel revenues and the short-term rental market during the first 8 and 9 months of the year.
23.8 million international air arrivals in 9 months, up except for the Cyclades
According to the latest INSETE Intelligence report, in the period January-September 2025, international air arrivals amounted to 23.8 million, showing an increase of 1.2 million passengers or +5.5% compared to the same period in 2024. In September alone, 3.9 million arrivals were recorded, up by 188 thousand (+5.1%) compared to September last year.
Athens International Airport recorded the highest traffic with 7 million arrivals in 9 months, recording a spectacular increase of +9.6%. Thessaloniki followed with 2.1 million arrivals, up by 10%.
At a regional level, Crete remains the top destination with 5 million arrivals (+4.6%), while the Dodecanese (4.1 million arrivals) and the Ionian Islands (3.7 million arrivals) recorded increases of +2.2% and +4.7% respectively.
The Peloponnese recorded a notable increase of +11%, reaching 231 thousand arrivals, while the Cyclades were the only exception, with a decrease of –6.4% or 77 thousand (1.1 million arrivals).
Travel Receipts: +12% and new revenue records
Travel receipts for the period January–August 2025 amounted to €16.7 billion, up 12% compared to 2024. The increase came from both visitors from the European Union (+9.4%) and from those outside the EU (+14.9%).
Receipts from eurozone countries reached €7.1 billion (+7.2%), while from non-euro EU countries amounted to €2.1 billion (+17.4%).
In detail, the main markets showed a consistently positive trend:
- Germany: +6.6% (€2.64 billion)
- France: +5.5% (€1.02 billion)
- Italy: +1.4% (€984 million)
- United Kingdom: +8.7% (€2.49 billion)
- United States: +20.6% (€1.17 billion)
Short-term rental at historic highs in the third quarter
In the field of short-term rental in Greece, the evolution of the number of accommodations during the period January-September 2025 highlights the steady upward momentum of the market, with supply maintained at historically high levels, consolidating the positive trend that began in 2023 and strengthened throughout 2024.
Regarding the third quarter of the year, the In July, available accommodations reached 246 thousand, exceeding the 232 thousand of July 2024 (+14 thousand), while in August a new historical high was recorded with 247 thousand, increased by +14 thousand compared to the 233 thousand of August 2024. In September, a marginal de-escalation is observed to 245 thousand accommodations, remaining however +13 thousand higher compared to the 232 thousand of September 2024.
In terms of available beds, the third quarter peaked with consecutive historical highs and with the limit of 1 million beds being maintained steadily from April onwards. In July, 1,078 thousand beds were recorded, increased by +57 thousand from 1,021 thousand in July 2024. In August, a new historical high was recorded with 1,081 thousand, i.e. +58 thousand compared to 1,023 thousand in August 2024. In September, available beds amounted to 1,075 thousand, remaining at a high level, increased by +56 thousand higher than 1,019 thousand in September 2024.
