Greek hoteliers are confirming new trends highlighted in a recent study by the European Travel Commission (ETC), revealing important insights about the current state of Greek tourism.
Manolis Tsakalakis, president of the Rethymno Hotel Association, noted a rise in foreign bookings for June, but a stagnation—or even slight decline—for July and August compared to last year. “June is proving to be a very strong month, but the same cannot be said for July and August,” Tsakalakis told OT. He explained that June’s lower prices, as a “mid-season” month, make it more attractive than the expensive peak summer months.
The ETC’s “Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel” study supports these observations. According to the study, May and June are now the most popular months for European travelers, with 40% planning trips during this period. Meanwhile, 29% of Europeans still intend to travel during the traditional high season of July and August.
Greece continues to rank among the top five holiday destinations for Europeans, following Spain (6.5%), Italy (6.0%), and France (5.9%), with Greece holding steady at 4.9%.
Economic uncertainty, rising temperatures linked to climate change, and a growing preference for less crowded locations are influencing travelers’ decisions. The study also reported a 3% decrease in Europeans willing to travel through September compared to last year. Additionally, travel to Southern and Mediterranean Europe has dropped by 8%, likely due to concerns over extreme weather conditions.
