- Crete maintains a steady influx of visitors, even in autumn.
- Named among Europe’s top island destinations, Crete has global appeal.
- It holds fourth place in the Conde Nast Traveller’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Crete recorded remarkable international and domestic flight growth in 2024.
Crete continues to charm its visitors, boasting a steady stream of tourists even during the autumn months. According to the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, conducted by Conde Nast Traveller, Crete ranks among the top islands in Europe in fourth place. This recognition asserts its status as a top European destination, drawing travellers from around the globe with its diverse landscapes and rich culture influenced by diverse hegemonies, including Minoan, Mycenean, Byzantine, Arabs, Venetian, Ottoman, and Germans.
The acclaim doesn’t end with Crete. Greece has no less than seven islands in the Conde Nast Traveller’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Award, including Paros in third place, Skiathos in fifth, Rhodes in seventh, Zakynthos in twelfth, Corfu in seventeenth, and Santorini in eighteenth. These islands collectively highlight Greece’s unrivalled allure, celebrated for their authentic experiences and welcoming accommodations.
Surpassing Expectations: Crete’s Tourist Growth
Crete significantly outshines expectations in tourism growth for 2024. Data from INSETE reveals that airport arrivals have reached impressive new heights from January to August. Heraklion Airport recorded 2.8 million international arrivals, marking a 5.8% increase, equating to 153,000 more visitors than the previous year.
In turn, Chania Airport recorded 1.1 million international arrivals, achieving a 7.6% rise or 80,000 additional visitors over 2023.
Domestic travel also flourished, with Heraklion Airport welcoming 560,000 visitors, an increase of 11%.
Chania also experienced remarkable growth, with 300,000 arrivals, enhancing its figures by 8.3%.
This season, a rise in tourists from Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will boost the island’s year-round tourism sector. Major hotels have committed to operating beyond October, extending their hospitality and luxury services to guests. Heraklion and Rethymnon, in particular, stand to gain substantially, as increased traffic to and from Heraklion Airport delivers a significant opportunity for local businesses.