- The Visa Express program boosted Turkish tourist numbers to the Eastern Aegean and Dodecanese islands.
- More Turkish visitors extend their trips to three or more days, benefiting local businesses.
- In 2024, over 104,700 Turks visited Greek islands using the streamlined visa process.
- Mytilene led in issued visas with 27,600, followed by Chios with approximately 25,000.
- For 2025, expectations are high for another increase in Turkish tourism to the region.
- Calls have grown to make the Visa Express program permanent to sustain local tourism growth.
Visitors from Türkiye to the Eastern Aegean islands appear to be changing the standards of island hopping. Gone are the days of fast one-day trips; today, a new trend of lengthier stays is gaining over. More tourists from Türkiye are now reserving vacations in a pleasant three-to-five-day range because of the simplicity of the Visa Express system.
This change represents a lifeline for local companies, and it is not only a pleasant surprise. Higher spending from these long vacations is helping hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related industries. Data reveals that 37,000 of these visas issued in 2024 were for three-day stays. Meanwhile, 21,500 guests remained for four days, and a portion of 22,000 pushed it up a notch with five to six days. In contrast, day-trippers were far fewer, with only 12,700 people choosing two days, and over 4,000 single-day visas granted.
Over 86,000 stays extended at least three days, indicating a definite move toward holidays lasting long enough to fully appreciate the magnificence of these islands. If data could grin, it would be safe to say they would be beaming.
Visa Express: The Short-Term Solution Desiring To Remain
Experts are asking for more investigation into the unexpected arrival of 104,700 Turkish visitors 2024 under the Visa Express scheme. While Chios wasn’t far behind with roughly 25,000, Mytilene showed the primary attraction with 27,600 visas. Calls to make this program a permanent component of the local tourist strategy rise as these figures rise. Prominent voice in hospitality and tourism studies, Konstantina Svinou, contends that the program is too beneficial to put aside after one or two years.
But beyond the jubilation about rising figures is a hint of irony. Some islands, like Kos, are still catching up with infrastructure. Svinou somewhat harshly noted that visitors waiting for visa approval frequently confront scorching midsummer sun without even the decency of some fundamental shade. Though guests may depart with happy memories of Aegean sunsets, that first experience—sweating it out in an unshaded line—could readily turn into an unwanted story.
Larger Waves on the Horizon: What Comes Next
Looking forward, 2025 appears set to have an even larger list of Turkish tourists. The Greek government has extended the Visa Express program for another year, a decision welcomed by hoteliers and municipal tourism authorities. Particularly, the Northern Aegean and Dodecanese islands are anticipated to experience an increase in visitors.
This is not only about headcounts. Turkish tourism offers a lifeline for islands that are more difficult to reach for foreign visitors flying in from countries including Germany, France, or the United States. Relying on nearby Turkish visitors is not only about convenience; for areas that otherwise could see thinner seasons owing to logistical constraints, it is a vital economic balance.
Bureaucracy’s wheels are now rolling in favor of tourism, so one has to question aloud—how long until this “temporary” action becomes permanent? If the answer fits, is any justification to postpone it worth the danger?
