Greek tourism has shown mixed results in the first five months of 2026, as the increase in international air arrivals is not evenly distributed across the map of destinations. Crete and the Ionian Islands are showing strong momentum, while Athens and the Aegean islands are posting mixed results.
According to data from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE), international air arrivals between January and May totaled approximately 6.6 million, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
May, the month when the tourist season essentially begins, provided an additional boost to the market, with international arrivals rising by 3.4% year-over-year, despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The Winners
Crete emerged as the star performer of the five-month period, recording the largest increase among the country’s major tourist destinations. The airports in Heraklion and Chania recorded strong growth in international arrivals of 11.3% and 20.9%, respectively, and welcomed a total of 1.15 million international travelers, confirming the island’s status as one of the Mediterranean’s most important destinations.
The picture was particularly positive in May, when Crete further strengthened its position, with the island’s two major airports recording a significant 12.3% increase in arrivals. Heraklion recorded a 10% increase, while Chania saw an 18% increase year-over-year.
The Ionian Islands also followed an upward trend, with international air arrivals in the first five months reaching 603,000, an increase of 55,000, or 10.1%. The region benefits from the strong presence of the British market, which remains one of the most important sources of visitors for the Ionian Islands, as well as from the expansion of air connections.
As for individual destinations, Corfu is the region’s main pillar. Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport recorded an increase in international arrivals of over 12% during the five-month period.
Zakynthos also saw an uptick, with international air arrivals rising by 10.6%, confirming the destination’s momentum, which relies heavily on Northern European markets. In contrast, Kefalonia remained stable, with a marginal decline of 0.8%, while Aktio recorded a 5.8% increase.
The overall picture shows that the Ionian Islands are gaining ground, capitalizing on strong air connections with European markets.
A significant change is also evident in the Cyclades, where the picture is shaped by two distinct trends. Overall, the Cyclades islands recorded a 6.8% year-over-year increase. Specifically, Mykonos showed a strong recovery, with international arrivals increasing by 19.4% in the first five months, while, in contrast, Santorini remained essentially at the same levels as last year, with a change of -0.2%.
Other destinations that maintained positive growth included Samos (24.5%), Skiathos (11.6%), and Mytilene (14.6%).
The Losers
In the Dodecanese, the picture is more mixed. Rhodes recorded a 1.6% increase in international air arrivals, maintaining high traffic volumes but without the high growth rates seen in other regions. Kos, on the other hand, saw a decline, with arrivals falling by 4.5% over the five-month period.
Within this group, Karpathos stands out, with a double-digit growth rate of 21.8% year-over-year.
Urban Centers
Beyond the island groups, Athens remains the country’s largest gateway, with international air arrivals increasing by 2.2% in the first five months. Growth in the capital is slower than in some regional destinations; however, Athens retains its strategic importance due to the large volume of visitors and its international connections.
A similar pattern, albeit at different rates, is also observed in Thessaloniki, where international arrivals rose by 4.2%, while Kalamata posted a strong increase of 19.4%, strengthening its position among regional airports.
