Μake us preferred on Google Turkey has recorded the sharpest rise in ferry bookings to Greece among the top 15 source markets so far in 2026, with a 53.9% increase of Turkish tourists year-on-year, according to an analysis by Greek ferry booking platform Ferryscanner covering reservations made between January 1 and July 28 for travel from June through September.
The surge coincides with the introduction of visa-on-arrival access for Turkish citizens to 12 Aegean islands, significantly easing travel between the two countries. Despite ranking 12th overall by booking volume, Turkey’s growth rate outpaced all other major markets by a wide margin.
Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and the United States remain the five largest source markets by volume. Italy held the top spot with bookings up 13.8 percent, while France rose 6.9 percent and the U.S. climbed 5.4 percent. British bookings fell 11.1 percent, though the market remains among the highest by volume, and Australia posted the steepest decline among the top five, down 17.9 percent — a drop analysts linked to the escalation of the Middle East crisis from March onward, which has broadly disrupted long-haul international travel planning.
Santorini Loses Ground Across All Major Markets
The Cyclades islands — Paros, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, and Ios — remain the most popular destinations overall, but booking patterns are shifting. Santorini posted declines across all five major markets, with the steepest drop among Australian travelers at 31.6 percent, followed by the United Kingdom at 25.8 percent, Italy at 21.4 percent, France at 16.6 percent, and the United States at 14.5 percent.
Meanwhile, other islands are gaining. Skiathos surged 81.4 percent among Italian travelers, with Kos and Sifnos also recording strong growth in that market. French tourists are booking more to Naxos, Mykonos, Syros, and Tinos, while American visitors are showing increased interest in Aegina and Hydra, up 35.4 percent and 34.1 percent respectively. Milos remains a top choice for Australians, French, and American travelers, and Sifnos stands out in the British and French markets.
