The Greek island of Crete is once again “impressing international travelers,” according to a survey conducted by rural tourism cluster epaithros+, which sounds suspiciously like a group that would rather not hear a negative answer. The big headline?
A 91 percent satisfaction rate for the 2025 season.
Crete’s sun, sea, food, culture, and hospitality continue to attract the masses, which is lovely — and also the same thing that has been attracting people since the Minoans invented tourism thousands of years ago.
The survey collected 1,187 questionnaires between September and October, mostly at Heraklion Airport (Europe‘s worst, but who’s counting?), which is exactly the place where tourists are too tired, too sunburned, or too polite to say what they really think.
Unsurprisingly, 97 percent rated their stay “positively” to “very positively,” which is what happens when you offer a clipboard to someone who has just spent a week eating dakos and seeing goats on cliffs.
Germany: Crete’s Favorite Child
A full 38 percent of Crete’s arrivals came from Germany, and 62 percent of those were repeat visitors — meaning Germans are returning to Crete more reliably than Cretans return text messages.
The US follows with 7 percent, which is cute. Switzerland, the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium complete the top six, all of them acting as if they discovered the island last week.
Thematic Tourism: Because “Beach” Is Not Enough
The survey proudly announces that thematic tourism is rising, which is a poetic way of saying tourists finally realized there is more to Crete than frying themselves on a lounger.
Visitors engaged in cultural sites (43 percent), food and wine experiences (36 percent), and sports (31 percent).
You know — the usual vacation activities, except this time branded as “thematic.”
Over 70 percent said they would recommend Crete for rural tourism, which is excellent news for anyone who has ever walked through a Cretan village and thought, “This serenity could use more tourists.”
Spending ranges from 30 to 120 euros on special activities,
with 19 percent spending over 121 euros — a suspiciously specific figure that screams “we needed one more statistic.”
Nature, Locals, Food — As If There Was Another Option
Memorable moments, the survey reports, come from nature, locals, and cuisine — shocking absolutely nobody who has ever left their hotel room.
The countryside stands out as a major draw, with visitors seeking serenity (39 percent), joy (31 percent), and admiration (14 percent).
The remaining percentage likely represents people counting how many cats they saw in one day.
And the Grand Conclusion…
According to the survey, Crete’s high satisfaction rates, repeat visitation, and rising interest in thematic tourism suggest a bright future — which is what all surveys conclude when they are funded by people who want a bright future.
No mention of airport chaos.
No mention of traffic.
No mention of noise, pollution, or the goats that occasionally steal your food.
No mention of taxi strikes.
No mention of the reality locals live every day.
But yes — visitors are satisfied, because Crete is amazing…
and because nobody asked them at 2 a.m. while they were trying to sleep through a motorbike with no exhaust.
