German Travelers Flock to Greece in 2024, with Crete Shining as a Favorite Spot

Santorini, Greece.

Greece has emerged as one of the top travel destinations for package flights booked by German travelers for summer 2024, according to the German Travel Association (DRV).

The DRV collaborated with Travel Data + Analytics GmbH (TDA), a specialist in tourism data analysis and business intelligence, to conduct this research. Analysts examined booking data from both physical travel agencies and online platforms, extrapolating it to represent the German tour operator market.

The findings revealed that Greece ranked third among the top five Mediterranean destinations for German travelers. Türkiye secured the top spot, followed by Spain in second place, while Egypt and Italy ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Extended summer season

Motivated by the motto “summer, sun, beach”, German travelers primarily selected Mediterranean destinations, effectively extending the summer season into October. According to the DRV, this trend has resulted in significant growth in both traveler numbers and sales.

Crete: A favorite autumn destination

Chania, Crete. Photo source: Visit Greece

DRV’s data indicated that Crete was the fourth most popular choice for German travelers seeking sunny autumn getaways.

DRV President Norbert Fiebig noted that families are especially inclined to seek sunny destinations in autumn, contributing to an 18 percent increase in organized trip sales for October 2024 compared to the previous year.

Notably, the German tour operator alltours has eexpanded its flight program to Crete until late November due to high demand during the shoulder season.

The Turkish Riviera saw the highest demand, with Antalya being the most booked destination in October. Other popular choices included Mallorca and Fuerteventura in Spain, as well as Hurghada in Egypt.

End of the 2023/24 tourism year

The conclusion of the summer season on October 31 also marks the end of the 2023/24 tourism year, which recorded an 8 percent increase in guests traveling with tour operators compared to the previous year (as of August). Additionally, sales rose by 12 percent compared to the 2022/23 tourism year.

High demand for the Canary Islands, Egypt, Thailand, and USA in winter

Canary Islands.

The trend of early bookings is continuing for the upcoming 2024/25 winter season, which spans from November 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025.

Current data indicates a 17 percent increase in early bookings compared to the same period last year, with holidaymakers primarily attracted to classic winter destinations such as the Canary Islands and Egypt.

“Thailand and the USA are experiencing above-average demand,” notes Fiebig. Other popular long-haul destinations include the Maldives, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, and Mauritius.