International air arrivals in Greece continued to grow during the first five months of 2026, although performance varied significantly across destinations. While the overall picture remains positive, the country’s tourism recovery is far from uniform, with some regions strengthening their market position and others posting only modest gains or even slight declines.
According to the latest statistical bulletin by the Greek Tourism Confederation’s research institute (INSETE), international air arrivals in Greece reached 6.6 million between January and May 2026, an increase of 316,000 passengers or 5% compared with the same period in 2025. The figures confirm resilient demand for Greece despite softer performance in certain markets and seasonal fluctuations.
Strong first quarter, more mixed second quarter
The year began on a particularly strong note. During the first quarter of 2026, Greece recorded 1.9 million international air arrivals, up 14.6% year-on-year. January arrivals increased by 10.5%, February by 17.5%, and March by 15.7%, reflecting robust early-season demand.
The second quarter started more cautiously. April recorded a slight decline of 1.9%, with international arrivals falling to 1.5 million passengers. However, May partially offset that slowdown, posting a 3.4% increase to 3.1 million arrivals. The trend suggests that while demand remains solid, tourism growth is becoming more uneven throughout the season.
Crete and the Ionian Islands outperform
Among Greece’s tourism regions, Crete emerged as the strongest performer during the first five months of the year. Heraklion and Chania airports welcomed a combined 1.2 million international passengers, representing a 13.8% increase over the previous year.
Heraklion Airport recorded an 11.3% increase in international arrivals, while Chania achieved an impressive 20.9% rise, further strengthening Crete’s position as one of the Mediterranean’s leading tourism destinations.
The Ionian Islands also delivered a strong performance, attracting 603,000 international visitors, up 10.1% year-on-year. Corfu posted growth of 12.4%, Zakynthos increased by 10.6%, and Aktion Airport recorded a 5.8% rise. Kefalonia was the only destination in the region to experience a slight decline, slipping by 0.8%.
The region continues to benefit from strong demand from the UK market as well as an expanding network of direct air connections from Northern Europe.
Mixed performance across the Aegean islands
The picture is more balanced in the Dodecanese, where international arrivals remained broadly stable. The region welcomed 788,000 passengers, representing a marginal increase of just 0.1%.
Rhodes posted moderate growth of 1.6%, while Kos declined by 4.5%. Karpathos, although from a much smaller base, recorded one of the strongest growth rates nationwide, with arrivals increasing by 21.8%.
The Cyclades also displayed contrasting trends. Overall international arrivals rose by 6.8%, supported by Mykonos, which rebounded strongly with a 19.4% increase. Santorini remained virtually unchanged, recording a marginal decline of 0.2%.
Other destinations performed particularly well, including Paros (+15.6%) and Samos (+24.5%), highlighting the increasingly diverse performance across Greece’s island destinations.
Athens and Thessaloniki maintain steady growth
Athens remained Greece’s primary international gateway, welcoming 2.9 million international passengers during the January-May period, an increase of 2.2%.
Thessaloniki followed with 929,000 international arrivals, up 4.2%, reinforcing its role as the country’s second-largest aviation hub.
Several regional airports also recorded notable gains, including Kalamata (+19.4%), Chania and Samos, indicating that tourism growth is gradually spreading beyond Greece’s traditional flagship destinations.
Domestic air travel continues to expand
Domestic aviation also maintained positive momentum. Air arrivals on domestic routes reached 3.5 million passengers during the first five months of 2026, representing annual growth of 5.8%.
Athens accounted for the largest share with 1.7 million domestic passengers, followed by Thessaloniki with 494,000. Strong increases were also recorded in Santorini, Paros and Kavala, reflecting resilient domestic travel demand.
International tourism and travel receipts remain strong
Beyond aviation figures, inbound tourism continued to strengthen. Between January and April 2026, Greece welcomed 5.24 million international visitors, representing a 27.1% increase compared with the same period last year.
Growth was driven by both EU markets (+36.1%) and non-EU countries (+18.3%). The United Kingdom stood out with a 51% increase in visitor numbers, while arrivals from the United States declined slightly by 3.4%.
Tourism revenue also recorded impressive growth. During the January-April period, travel receipts reached €2.79 billion, up 36.9% year-on-year. Strong performances from Italy and the United Kingdom more than compensated for weaker results from some traditional source markets.
Regional differences shape Greece’s tourism outlook
Overall, international air arrivals in Greece confirm that the country’s tourism industry remains firmly on a growth trajectory in 2026. However, the latest figures also underline significant regional differences, with Crete and the Ionian Islands clearly outperforming many other destinations.
Athens and Thessaloniki continue to expand steadily thanks to their role as major transport hubs, while destinations across the Dodecanese and the Cyclades present a more mixed picture.
The coming summer months will determine whether this positive momentum evolves into more balanced growth across Greece’s tourism map or whether regional disparities become even more pronounced.
