2026 got off to a positive start for Greek tourism, as international air arrivals during the first four months of the year exceeded 3.46 million, marking a 6.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
However, despite the rise in arrivals over the four-month period, the turbulent situation in the Middle East appears to have left its mark on April’s air traffic performance, which closed with a slight decline of 1.9% compared to the same month in 2025.
Specifically, approximately 1.54 million international air arrivals were recorded in April , compared to 1.57 million last year, a development of particular significance as April is considered a bellwether month for the start of the tourist season, especially for island destinations. Hence, the four-month result was mainly driven by the strong performance of the first quarter, when arrivals increased by 14.6%.
According to data processed by the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), the start of this year’s tourist season shows variations by region and destination. While major urban centers are gaining momentum, popular island destinations are showing signs of fatigue.
By destination
Athens remains the primary gateway for travelers, with the Greek capital’s airport recording over 2 million international arrivals in the first four months, marking a 7.1% increase compared to last year.
Thessaloniki also showed a positive trend, with 651,000 international arrivals and a 3.7% increase, a fact that confirms the city’s strengthened position as a regional hub for visitors from the Balkans—and beyond.
The big winner of the first four months is undoubtedly Crete. The airports of Heraklion and Chania recorded a total of more than 405,000 international arrivals, an increase of 16.8% compared to 2025. Chania, in particular, saw an increase of nearly 28%, reflecting the sustained growth in demand for the destination.
In contrast, several equally popular island destinations saw a decline. For example, Rhodes saw a 3.5% decrease in international arrivals for the January–April period, while Kos recorded a significant drop of 24.4%. Declines were also recorded in Mykonos, where arrivals fell by 21.7%, as well as in Kefalonia, which saw a 22.8% drop.
At the regional level, the Dodecanese saw a decline over the four-month period, recording a 6.6% decrease in international arrivals. The decline is mainly linked to losses in Kos and Rhodes, destinations that had shown particularly high growth rates in previous years.
The Cyclades remained essentially flat in the first four months of 2026, with a marginal increase of 0.7%, a trend indicating that the region appears to be entering a phase of maturity, with significantly lower growth rates compared to previous years.
In contrast, the Ionian Islands maintained positive momentum, recording a 10% increase in international arrivals during the first four months. Corfu was the main driver of growth, with a 15.4% increase, supported primarily by the consistently strong British market.
The picture was also positive for the Peloponnese, which continues to gradually strengthen its tourism footprint.
Domestic
At the same time, according to INSETE data, domestic travel remained positive in the first four months of 2026, confirming steady demand for domestic travel.
Domestic arrivals at the country’s main airports totaled approximately 2.6 million, with Athens accounting for the largest volume of traffic and Thessaloniki following. The picture was also strong for popular island destinations such as Santorini, Rhodes, and Heraklion, particularly in April due to the Easter season.