Greek tourism is showing solid gains, according to the latest figures from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. Between January and June 2026, international air arrivals hit 10.7 million — up 396,000, or 3.8%, compared with the same period in 2025. June alone brought in 4.1 million passengers, an increase of 80,000 (2%) on June 2025.
Athens International Airport recorded 3.8 million international arrivals over the first half of the year, essentially flat with a tiny 0.04% dip. Thessaloniki managed 1.2 million, up 5.6%. Heraklion reached 1.5 million (+7.1%), while Chania posted 616,000 (+13.2%). Rhodes saw 1.1 million (+3.1%), though Kos slipped to 443,000 (−2%).
Corfu welcomed 727,000 international passengers (+9.3%), Zakynthos 360,000 (+4.9%), Kefalonia 128,000 (+6%), and Aktion 141,000 (+6.9%). Mykonos climbed to 157,000 (+13.2%) and Santorini to 193,000 (+2%). Kalamata handled 61,000 (+10%), Samos 54,000 (+27.3%), and Skiathos 96,000 (+12%). Kavala fell to 32,000 (−16.2%), while Mytilene rose to 27,000 (+5.8%).
Every major region recorded growth. Crete led the way with 2.1 million international arrivals (+8.8%), followed by the Dodecanese at 1.6 million (+1.7%), the Ionian Islands at 1.4 million (+7.5%), the Cyclades at 350,000 (+6.7%), and the Peloponnese at 83,000 (+3.1%).
Domestic air traffic also rose. January–June 2026 saw 4.6 million internal arrivals, up 5.2% on the previous year. The first quarter alone delivered 1.8 million (+7.5%), with January at 564,000 (+6.7%), February at 576,000 (+10.5%), and March at 656,000 (+5.6%). The second quarter kept climbing: April 802,000 (+5.1%), May 912,000 (+3.2%), and June 1.1 million (+3.2%).
Athens handled the bulk of domestic traffic with 2.2 million arrivals (+4.9%). Thessaloniki recorded 610,000 (+4.9%), Heraklion 450,000 (+1.1%), and Chania 238,000 (+7.3%). Rhodes saw 227,000 (+2.4%), Kos 82,000 (+5.1%), and Karpathos 16,000 (+2.4%). Santorini jumped to 251,000 (+13.8%), while Mykonos dipped slightly to 95,000 (−1%). Paros reached 76,000 (+13.5%). Corfu posted 94,000 (+2.5%), Zakynthos 24,000 (+19.9%), and Kefalonia 24,000 (+9.5%). Mytilene recorded 96,000 (+4.2%), Samos 48,000 (+6.9%), Kavala 25,000 (+37.6%), Skiathos 12,000 (+3%), and Kalamata 4,000 (−6.7%).
Regionally, Crete again topped the domestic list with 688,000 arrivals (+3.2%). The Cyclades followed with 421,000 (+10.1%), the Dodecanese with 325,000 (+3.1%), and the Ionian Islands with 143,000 (+7%).
Looking at overall inbound travel for January–May 2026, the number of visitors rose 20.9% to 8.6 million, from 7.1 million a year earlier. Arrivals from EU-27 countries reached 4.7 million (+24.1%), while those from other countries climbed to 3.8 million (+17.1%). Eurozone traffic was up 23.8% and non-Eurozone EU traffic up 25.5%.
Germany sent 1.2 million visitors (+13.6%), France 389,000 (+13.7%), and Italy 356,000 (+14.2%). From outside the EU, the UK contributed 966,000 (+35.9%), though the United States slipped to 454,000 (−2%).
Travel receipts for the same five months jumped 25.8% to €5.32 billion. EU-27 spending rose 18% to €2.676 billion, while revenue from other countries grew 36.9% to €2.42 billion. Eurozone visitors spent €2.262 billion (+20.9%) and non-Eurozone EU visitors €414 million (+4.5%).
Germany generated €761 million (+0.3%), France €284 million (+13.3%), and Italy €222 million (+27.6%). UK spending surged 50.9% to €736 million, and US spending rose 19.4% to €539 million.
