INSETE: June International Arrivals to Greece Up 5.6% to 3.8 Million

June, marking the beginning of summer, was a standout month for tourist arrivals in Greece, according to data analysis by INSETE, the research institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

International arrivals at Greek airports reached 3.8 million in June, representing a 5.6 percent increase compared to June 2023. This equates to 203,000 more passengers arriving in the country than in the previous year.

The majority of these arrivals — 2.58 million passengers, or 67.7 percent — were recorded at airports in Athens, Heraklion (Crete), Rhodes, Corfu, and Chania (Crete). Thessaloniki also saw significant traffic, with 260,000 international passengers arriving, most of whom continued on to Halkidiki.

Mykonos and Santorini see drop in numbers 

Santorini.

On the other hand, two of Greece’s most popular island destinations, Mykonos and Santorini, have experienced a decline in popularity—at least in terms of flight passenger arrivals—for the second consecutive year.

In June, Mykonos recorded 91,800 international arrivals, a decrease of 3.4 percent compared to June 2023. Similarly, Santorini saw 121,753 international arrivals, reflecting a minimal decline of 0.2 percent.

However, the decline was more pronounced in the preceding months. Mykonos experienced significant drops, with a 64.8 percent decrease in March, 12.1 percent in April, and 5.8 percent in May. Since the start of the tourist season, the island has received 136,700 international tourists, which is 5 percent less than the same period in 2023.

Santorini also faced reductions in international arrivals, with a 39.7 percent decrease in March, 4.4 percent in April, and a slight increase of 0.5 percent in May compared to the previous year. From the beginning of the tourist season through June, Santorini welcomed 233,000 international passengers, marking a 1.1 percent decrease from the same period in 2023.

January-June: Almost 10 million arrivals

From January through June 2024, international passenger arrivals to Greece totaled 9.7 million, marking a 9.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, when arrivals were 8.9 million.

Notably, since the beginning of 2024, the Dodecanese islands have experienced a double-digit increase in international arrivals, rising by 10.2 percent to reach 1.5 million visitors. Crete followed with 1.8 million arrivals, reflecting an 8.6 percent increase. The Peloponnese saw an increase of 8.3 percent, while the Ionian islands experienced a growth of 6.9 percent.