Tourists abandon Greece's most popular islands sparking panic
New data has revealed that two of Greece's most iconic tourist destinations, the Cyclades islands of Santorini and Mykonos, are suffering from huge drops in international tourists this year. Popular island Santorini has reportedly seen a massive decline in visitors, and Mykonos showed a decline at the start of the year.
Santorini is well known for its stunning blue-domed whitewashed buildings, making it the perfect backdrop for beautiful sunset photographs.
Earlier this year, the island experienced a prolonged period of seismic activity. The alarming incidents sparked uncertainty among potential visitors, especially tourists from the US, Canada, and Australia.
Recent reports by the Greek Tourism Confederation and the Institute of the Hellenic Tourism Business Association (INSETE), the number of international visitors flying into Santorini has fallen by as much as 19% compared to last year, reports the Express. Overall, the year-end decline in arrivals to the island is projected to range between 10% and 15%.
Ferry bookings, another major source of visitors, have not fared much better, with the volcanic island experiencing a 7% drop in reservations. Ferryhopper data, which looks at booking trends, highlighted a decline in bookings from the US, Australia and Canada, declining by 5%, 6% and 2% respectively.
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Data from the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers and short-term rental platforms, including Airbnb, have also highlighted reduced demand in Santorini, with up to a 20% reduction in bookings during certain periods compared to 2024, according to tovima.com.
In contrast, Mykonos shows signs of a gradual recovery. While it experienced an 8% fall in air arrivals at the start of the year, the island recorded a slight 2% increase in June. Ferry bookings, meanwhile, have remained stable, propped up by steady domestic demand amid mixed results from international markets.
According to Ferryhopper, Mykonos maintained similar US booking levels but suffered from declines from Australia (-10%) and Canada (-22%).
While international demand has not been nearly as high as in recent years, the domestic Greek market demonstrated renewed interest in both islands. Travel agencies have reported higher booking volumes for Greek tourists for Santorini and even stronger demand for Mykonos. However, this rise has not been enough to fill the gap left by foreign arrivals.
This data supports previous reports that Santorini is struggling to sustain its local economy, with hotels and restaurants reporting a drastic drop in business despite busy streets during the day. Local tour operator Gianluca Chimenti, who has lived on the island for nearly two decades, has raised the alarm over what he calls the 'worst season ever'. Chimenti described a striking contrast between bustling daylight hours and eerily quiet evenings.
Mr Chimenti blamed social media for showing "something completely different from reality," adding, "The truth is that the island is empty. Right now is like never before.'
Last year, tourists poured onto the island via planes and ferries, with as many as 17,000 cruise ship passengers arriving in one day.
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