Greece’s tourism season is stretching further into autumn, with data pointing to a strong rise in arrivals through September and October and many destinations expected to remain open until mid-November.
According to the Greek Tourism Confederation’s airdata-tracker, nearly 12.95 million airline seats are scheduled for the remainder of the 2025 season, a 4.5% increase compared to last year. September alone is projected to see a 4.5% rise, while October shows a 4.7% increase, confirming a clear trend toward longer summers.
Rhodes, Crete, and Athens driving autumn tourism
The islands of Rhodes and Crete are set to remain key hubs for late-season visitors, while Athens continues to benefit from booming demand from the US market, which shows a 23.2% increase for the season and even stronger growth in the fall months.
Other major source markets also show growth: arrivals from Israel are up 24.9%, from the Netherlands 5.4%, Germany 2.9%, and Italy 3.7%. Only France records a decline, with a 2.8% drop in scheduled seats.
Rising spending boosts the sector
Tourism revenue continues to outpace expectations. Between January and June 2025, travel receipts rose by 11% to €7.66 billion, according to the Bank of Greece, while average spending per trip increased by 10.1%. Hotel prices in June climbed 17.5% compared to 2024, with occupancy reaching 78.5%, up from 75.7% last year.
Even short-term rentals saw a 2% rise in occupancy despite a sharp increase in supply, according to AirDNA.
A challenge for the future
While the extended season brings significant benefits, Greek tourism officials emphasize the need for sustainable growth. This includes reducing overreliance on seasonal peaks, highlighting lesser-known destinations, and ensuring economic benefits are spread across communities.
