Turkish tourism surges beyond Aegean islands into Greek cities
Turkish travelers, long a key source of tourism revenue for the Eastern Aegean islands, are increasingly expanding their presence to mainland destinations such as Athens and Thessaloniki. Travel receipts from Turkiye exceeded €500 million last year, according to official estimates.
Data from Turkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for 2025 show a record 2,253,513 Turkish visitors to Greece—more than double the 2024 figure, which ranged between 1.15 and 1.5 million.
The Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) also ranked Greece among the top destinations for the 11.9 million Turks who traveled abroad last year.
This surge was largely driven by the express visa program introduced for 10 Aegean islands in 2025. Around 1.1 million visitors used this scheme or existing permits to travel to islands such as Rhodes, Kos, and Chios. Ferry routes like Cesme–Chios and Bodrum–Kos saw the highest traffic, while Lesvos and Samos benefited from their proximity to Ayvalik and Kusadasi. Smaller islands—including Limnos, Kalymnos, Leros, Symi, and Kastellorizo—recorded annual visitor increases exceeding 40%.
Turkish tourism is also making inroads into major urban centers. Athens International Airport welcomed Turkiye into its top 10 international markets for the first time, accounting for 2.5% of arrivals. Thessaloniki continues to attract Turkish visitors due to strong historical ties, supported by increased flight connections with Istanbul and Ankara.
Spending data from major international credit card companies, along with reports from the Turkish Hoteliers Association, indicate that Turkish visitors bring significant purchasing power.
Several factors are driving this shift. High inflation in Turkiye has made domestic resorts less competitive, prompting many middle- and upper-income travelers to choose Greece instead. At the same time, interest in property investment remains strong, with Athens and Thessaloniki drawing growing attention from Turkish buyers.
