Strong autumn season expected and Crete’s leading position among German and US tourists.
Strong tourism in autumn in Crete
Varied Speeds of Tourism Growth
The Greek tourism sector keeps showing resilience and steady growth, even though things slowed down a bit earlier in the year and mid-summer. Scheduled flights for September and October 2025 are up 4.5% compared to last year, hinting at a longer tourist season deep into autumn.
Several places in Greece—Rhodes and Crete especially—still attract visitors well after the usual summer rush. September and October now feel like a new peak, with many hotels and businesses staying open until mid-November.
Tourists from Germany, the UK, and Israel mainly drive this extended season. The American market in Athens stands out, with a big jump in visitors this year and even more expected soon.
American tourists are spending more, particularly in Crete, and they’re becoming essential for the local economy.
Key Points |
Details |
|---|---|
Flight seats (Sept-Oct) |
Nearly 13 million planned, +4.5% over 2024 |
Main supporting markets |
Germany, UK, Israel, and notably USA in Athens |
Extended season focus |
Rhodes, Crete, and some Cycladic Islands |
Season length |
Stronger autumn months, hotels open till Nov |
The bump in autumn tourists lines up with what’s happening all over the Mediterranean. Cooler weather, better deals, and fewer crowds tempt travelers during what used to be the off-season.
September is now shaping up to be an unofficial fourth summer month. Hotel owners across Greece expect stronger bookings this September, hoping to make up for the slower July and August.
Regional airports run by Fraport—like those in Thessaloniki, Corfu, and Santorini—are seeing more international arrivals. This uptick boosts Greece’s connectivity and helps the tourism industry handle more late-season visitors.
The Bank of Greece and INSETE (the Greek Tourism Confederation) have data that backs up this upward trend in arrivals and spending. Their reports highlight how much this matters for the country’s tourism and the broader economy.
International visitors are now more evenly split between popular islands like Santorini and the mainland, including Thessaloniki and Athens. Each area gets something different from the longer season, but together, they’re all part of the bigger tourism picture.
This slow but steady season extension gives the tourism sector a better shot at handling ups and downs. It creates more opportunities for local businesses and communities, especially in places like Crete and the Cyclades that stay attractive even after summer ends.
The American market’s growth feels especially important. US visitors spend more per trip and bring valuable business to Athens and islands like Crete. Their steady increase bodes well for Greek tourism’s future and global reputation.
The pace of tourist flows—some regions and months racing ahead, others moving at a crawl—shows how dynamic Greek tourism has become. Changing travel habits and Greece’s growing ability to keep visitors happy all year round are really shaking things up.
Crete Leads as Favourite Destination Among German Tourists
Crete stands out as the top holiday destination for German travellers. It holds a solid lead with 33% of the preferences in recent studies.
This confirms Crete’s reputation as a diverse, all-ages destination—no wonder it’s so popular all summer long.
Rhodes comes in second at 20.7%, and Santorini takes third with 11.6%. Each island keeps pulling in big crowds, offering something unique that brings people back again and again.
The research digs into how age affects preferences:
- Ages 25–34: Crete is the clear favourite, with over 25% picking it as their top spot.
- Ages 35–44: Santorini leads, loved for its romance and atmosphere.
- Ages 55–65: Rhodes gets the nod, thanks to its beaches and rich history.
This variety just proves how each island has its own vibe, from nightlife and adventure to peace and culture.
Even smaller islands—Samos, Lefkada, Paxos—are starting to grab more attention. Slowly, they’re carving out a space in the German market and giving people more options beyond the big names.
The longer travel season on Crete helps keep this trend going. More flights and longer hotel availability mean tourists can visit well after summer, which keeps the local economy humming.
If you want to dive deeper into why Crete is so popular with German tourists, the latest survey has more details.
Record Spending from the USA: Growth of the American Tourist Market in Crete
Visitors from the USA now play a huge role in Greece’s tourism scene, especially in Crete. Americans spend more per person than most and seem to pick Greece again and again for their holidays.
Athens and the islands, Crete included, are top picks for American travelers. In the last few years, tourism from North America—mainly the USA and Canada—has been key to Greece’s recovery after the pandemic.
About 11% of Greece’s tourism income in 2025 came from these faraway markets. The country’s popularity keeps rising among Americans, now ranking 13th in their travel plans for the next year, and it’s the fourth favorite Mediterranean spot after Italy, France, and Spain.
American tourists really stand out for their spending. In 2024, 1.37 million Americans visited Greece—almost 8% more than the year before.
On average, each spent over €1,030, which is up 10%. Add in Canadians and Australians, and visitors from North America nearly hit 2 million, generating about €2.2 billion in revenue.
That’s a serious chunk of Greece’s service exports. The first quarter of 2025 kept the momentum going, with US arrivals up 5.8% and spending up 10.6% compared to the same stretch in 2024.
In February 2025, American arrivals and their spending helped offset a dip in European visitors, keeping the broader tourism market afloat.
Americans usually want well-planned, culture-rich trips. Direct flights to Athens make it easy for them to visit.
The new Kasteli Airport in Crete should give American tourism another push. US airlines look for modern airports when adding routes, so Kasteli’s new facilities could soon make Heraklion a handy hub for flights between the USA and the region.
There’s even talk of Heraklion airport serving as a connector for flights to places like Larnaca in Cyprus. That could mean even more American visitors and revenue for Crete and nearby areas.
Key Tourism Stats from USA |
Figures (2024-2025) |
|---|---|
American Arrivals (2024) |
1.37 million (+7.9% from 2023) |
Average Spend per Visitor |
€1,034 (+10% from 2023) |
North American Arrivals |
Nearly 2 million (USA, Canada, Australia) |
Total Revenue |
Approx. €2.2 billion |
Growth Q1 2025 |
+5.8% arrivals, +10.6% revenue |
The steady stream of American tourists and their hefty spending really shows how much they matter to Greek tourism. Their taste for quality trips and better travel links keep Crete and Athens high on their list.
Upgrades like the new Kasteli Airport make travel easier, which only adds to the momentum.
You can find more about this growing market on the page about the rise of American tourism in Crete.
Crete Leads in Air Arrivals While the Cyclades See a Decline
International air travel to Greece jumped noticeably during the first seven months of 2025. Total arrivals hit 15.2 million, which is a 5.3% bump compared to the same stretch in 2024.
That’s almost 770,000 more people flying in from abroad. It’s a pretty big number if you think about it.
Crete really pulled ahead as the top destination, drawing in close to 3 million international air passengers. That’s a 4.2% rise from last year—Heraklion alone saw 2.1 million arrivals, up 5.3%.
Chania chipped in too, with about 863,000 arrivals and a 1.7% increase. Both airports seem to be doing something right.
Other popular spots didn’t do too badly either:
- The Dodecanese islands had 2.4 million visitors, up 1.4%.
- The Ionian Islands welcomed 2.2 million passengers, a 4.5% increase.
- The Peloponnese counted 134,000 arrivals, with a strong 9.6% boost.
The Cyclades, though, saw a drop—visitor numbers fell 7.4% to 638,000 arrivals. It was the only major region in Greece where air travel actually slipped during this period.
Santorini took the hardest hit, with a 19.1% reduction in flights. That’s a tough break for such a famous island.
Mainland airports also picked up steam. Athens International Airport logged 4.9 million international arrivals, which is a 9.5% increase.
Thessaloniki’s airport wasn’t far behind, bringing in 1.5 million passengers, up 9.3%. Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at.
Here’s a quick look at some other key airports:
Airport |
Arrivals (Jan–July 2025) |
Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|
Rhodes |
1.7 million |
+1.3% |
Kos |
738,000 |
+2.6% |
Corfu |
1.1 million |
Data not specified |
Want more details? Take a look at the international air travel trends to see how Crete keeps climbing while the Cyclades struggle with arrivals.
You can also check out a deeper dive in the report on arrivals and declines.
