Greece experienced a prolonged tourism season in 2024, with total air arrivals climbing to 29.3 million, according to a recent study by a tourism research institute.

An analysis of international air travel from 2023 to 2024 revealed an increase of 2.6 million passengers, representing a 9.7 percent rise compared to the previous year’s total of 26.7 million.

The data suggests an extended tourism season, as international arrivals recorded moderate single-digit growth between June and September but saw double-digit increases during the remaining months.

International Air Arrivals in 2024

The five busiest airports in Greece accounted for 75 percent of all international arrivals. Athens handled the largest portion at 38 percent, followed by Heraklion at 13 percent and Rhodes at 10 percent. Thessaloniki ranked fourth with 8 percent, while Corfu accounted for 7 percent.

Other major airports included Chania and Kos, each with 5 percent, followed by Zakynthos at 4 percent, Santorini at 3 percent, and Mykonos at 2 percent. Meanwhile, Aktio and Kefalonia each contributed 1 percent to the total international arrivals.

Key Source Markets

The United Kingdom remained Greece’s top inbound market, with 5.3 million visitors, reflecting a 7.2 percent increase (+351,000) from the previous year. Germany followed with 4.8 million arrivals, recording the highest absolute growth of 389,000 passengers (+8.8 percent).

Among the fastest-growing markets, Turkey recorded the largest percentage increase at 25.3 percent, followed by Hungary at 25 percent and the United States at 24.2 percent.

July marked the peak for international air arrivals in 2024, with 5 million passengers, representing 16.9 percent of the year’s total.

Airport Performance

Athens Airport welcomed 11.1 million international arrivals in 2024, reflecting a 15.3 percent increase (+1.5 million passengers) from 9.7 million in 2023.

Thessaloniki Airport recorded 2.5 million international arrivals, a 3.9 percent rise (+91,000) compared to 2.4 million in 2023.

Regional airports across Greece handled 15.8 million international arrivals in 2024, reflecting a 7 percent increase (+1 million) from the previous year’s total of 14.8 million.

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