Greek tourism is showing great dynamics this year, based on the data provided by the picture of arrivals at Greek airports. It seems that inbound tourism has increasing trends, both in relation to the corresponding period last year and in relation to 2019, according to data processed by SETE’s INSETE.
As for international air arrivals, last May, they reached 2.6 million, showing an increase of +14.6%/+325 thousand compared to May 2022 and +8.7% compared to May 2019.
In the period January – May 2023, 5.3 million international air arrivals were recorded, representing an increase of +29.3%/+1.2 million arrivals over the January – May 2022 levels, while compared to the January – May 2019 period, the increase is estimated at +9.6%.
The picture is mixed in the individual geographical units in the January-May 2023 period, compared to the same period in 2022.
It is noted that increases were recorded in the Dodecanese (+78 thousand / +14.4%), in the geographical unit of Crete (+73 thousand / +9.2%) and in the Ionian Islands (+34 thousand / +7.9%).
Performance by airport
In the period January – May 2023, Athens International Airport recorded 2.2 million international air arrivals, representing an increase of +817 thousand / +57.5%. This was followed by Thessaloniki Airport, where 764 thousand international air arrivals were recorded, representing an increase of 190 thousand arrivals / +33.2%.
Heraklion airport recorded an increase of +49 thousand / +8.5%, while international air arrivals amounted to 624 thousand and Chania airport recorded 247 thousand arrivals, an increase of +25 thousand / +11.0%.
Rhodes airport recorded 484 thousand international air arrivals, an increase of +71 thousand/+17.2%, while Kos airport recorded 191 thousand international arrivals, an increase of +14 thousand/+7.8%.
Mykonos airport recorded 49 thousand international air arrivals, a decrease of -11 thousand /-17.6% and Santorini airport recorded 114 thousand international arrivals, a decrease of -6 thousand /-4.9%.
Corfu airport recorded 259 thousand international air arrivals, with an increase of +22 thousand/+9.1% and Zakynthos airport recorded 119 thousand international air arrivals, with an increase of +14 thousand/+13.3%. Aktio airport recorded 49 thousand international air arrivals, a decrease of -1 thousand/-2.1%, while Kefalonia airport remained at 2022 levels, with 44 thousand international air arrivals.
