This year’s tourist season in Corfu is coming to an end on a positive note, according to statements by the president of the Corfu Hoteliers Association, Babis Voulgaris, to Tornos News. As he stated, arrivals appear to have increased by approximately 5% compared to 2024, while the total number of visitors is expected to approach four million by the end of the year. From the cruise alone, the island welcomed approximately 700,000 passengers.
Despite the positive picture, the tourist season started sluggishly, with traffic increasing noticeably from mid-June and peaking in the months of July and August. Bookings, as Mr. Voulgaris pointed out, were mainly made at the last minute, while the momentum continued in September and October, which demonstrates the shift of visitors to shorter but more flexible trips.
At this point, it should be emphasized that, despite the high occupancy rates, the local market did not record a corresponding increase in turnover. As the president of the hoteliers explained, prices were set at lower levels, as tour operators and airlines offered discounts to boost demand, while hotels also actively participated in last-minute offers.
“Luxury hotels did not face a problem, as they have their own stable audience,” noted Mr. Voulgaris, adding, however, that the shift of many travelers to cheaper all-inclusive programs affected the liquidity of the local market.
Continuing, the president of the hoteliers expressed his concern about the continued lack of investment in infrastructure. “We do not see any projects. The island is facing serious problems with water, parking spaces and the basic infrastructure that supports tourism,” he pointed out.
He also referred to the increased operating costs of businesses, emphasizing that the implementation of the digital work card significantly increased labor costs, creating difficulties in many units that were not adequately prepared.
In any case, the final assessment of the season will be made, as he said, at the end of the year. However, Corfu seems to maintain its position among the top destinations in the country, combining high demand with the need for a new development model that will be based on modern infrastructure and sustainable management.
Corfu the flagship of the Ionian
Corfu remains one of the strongest tourist hubs in Western Greece, with 1.56 million international arrivals (+4.9%) and 151 thousand domestic arrivals (+6.8%). Zakynthos followed with 849 thousand arrivals (+4%), while Kefalonia recorded a smaller increase (303 thousand +1.5%).
The Ionian, overall, showed a 4.5% increase, demonstrating that the markets of the United Kingdom and Italy continue to firmly support the region. It is worth noting that receipts from these visitors also moved upwards, reflecting a higher-spending audience.
