Turkish tourists lead tourism growth in Western Thrace
Tourism revenue in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (EMT) rose by 37% in 2025 compared with the previous year, reaching €528 million, with Turkish visitors accounting for nearly half of the total income.
According to the annual report of the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE), tourists from Türkiye became the region's largest tourism market by a wide margin, generating €259 million in spending. Germany and Romania followed as the next biggest markets.
Visitor numbers increase
The region recorded strong growth in 2025, with tourist arrivals increasing by 49%, overnight stays by 31% and tourism revenue by 37%.
A total of 2.16 million visitors travelled to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace during the year. Around 970,000 came from Türkiye, followed by 487,000 from Bulgaria and 224,000 from Germany.
The region recorded 7.5 million overnight stays, with German visitors accounting for the highest number of nights, while Turkish and Romanian tourists also ranked among the leading groups.
Report highlights need for investment
INSETE warned that continued growth will require further investment in tourism infrastructure and stronger promotional efforts.
Despite higher overall revenue, average spending per visitor fell by 8.4% to €245, while the average length of stay declined by 12.2% to 3.5 nights.
However, spending per overnight stay increased by 4.4%, reaching €70.
