Article source: gtp| headlines Greek travel pages
A sky-high surge in tourism is forecasted for Greece this May, as airlines prepare to ferry an estimated 3.3 million passengers to its shores—an impressive 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This revelation comes courtesy of INSETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation's esteemed research body.
Drawing from insights provided by INSETE's Air Data Tracker, the uptick in scheduled flights mirrors a robust demand for Greek destinations this year, with May commanding a notable 12 percent share of total inbound airline seats. Looking ahead to the broader March-October timeframe, airlines have charted a course for Greece, scheduling a total of 27 million seats on inbound flights—an encouraging 8.6 percent uptick compared to 2023 figures.
Behind this surge in demand lies a tapestry of diverse markets eagerly seeking Greek experiences. Leading the charge are the UK, with an 11.5 percent increase, followed closely by Germany (+22.6 percent), Italy (+30 percent), France (+13.3 percent), the US (+40 percent), Spain (+37 percent), and Turkey (+18.3 percent).
Fueling this momentum are incoming charter flights, with bustling activity observed at key Greek gateways including Heraklion (Crete), Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kos, Chania, Zakynthos, Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens—all witnessing a surge in traffic.Greek tourism professionals are buoyed by these promising indicators, anticipating a robust season ahead. Reflective of this optimism, Greek airports recorded a staggering 1.6 million international air arrivals in the first quarter of the year, surpassing Q1 2023 levels by an impressive 18.7 percent—an additional 253 thousand arrivals.
At the forefront of this influx is Athens International Airport (AIA), which welcomed 1.2 million international arrivals—a remarkable 20.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year, equating to an additional 197,000 arrivals. Similarly, Thessaloniki airport reported a commendable 13.3 percent rise during the same timeframe, hosting 371,000 arrivals.
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