
This year proved to be the best October of all years for the South Aegean, as it even surpassed the 2019 record, confirming the forecasts.
In total, the international airports of Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Santorini and Karpathos attracted, from 1 to 31 October, 412,771 passengers, compared to 357,608 in the corresponding period of 2019, a milestone year for Greek tourism, achieving an increase of 15% , at Regional level.
The leap of Santorini
Extremely impressive was the performance of Santorini, where October 2021 showed an increase of 55%, compared to October of the “elusive” 2019.
It was better for Rhodes and Kos, since both islands of the Dodecanese exceeded the last year before the pandemic by about 10%.
More than 3 million visitors from abroad in the South Aegean
The tourist season of 2021, which still continues in the largest islands of the South Aegean, has brought, from May 13, when the country officially opened, until October 31, more than 3 million tourists through international flights, with Rhodes exceeding 1.4 million arrivals, Kos to complete 688,394, Mykonos to 360,198, Santorini to 471,017 and Karpathos to 43,084.
In reality, however, the arrivals of visitors from abroad to the islands of the South Aegean are more, since the above data do not include those who approach the islands with return flights via El. Venizelos and through the ferry network.
2021 multiplied the performance of 2020
It is noted that last year closed for Rhodes with 584,000 arrivals, about a third of this year’s results. Mykonos and Santorini from the side of the Cyclades, more than tripled the traffic of 2020 (Mykonos: 133,456 vs 360,198, Santorini: 141,472 vs 471,017). The island of Hippocrates had more than double the arrivals this year (322,316vs688,394), while Karpathos recorded the biggest recovery, fivefold the numbers of last year, difficult, year (8,237 vs 43,084).
Finally, it is noted that the tourist season of 2021 extends with scheduled flights and reservations until November 14, based on the data so far.


Latest News

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)

Mitsotakis Unveils €1 Billion Plan for Housing, Pensioners, Public investments
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a new set of economic support measures, worth 1 billion euros, aiming to provide financial relief to citizens.

Alter Ego Ventures Invests in Pioneering Gaming Company ‘Couch Heroes’
Alter Ego Ventures' participation in the share capital of Couch Heroes marks yet another investment by the Alter Ego Media Group in innovative companies with a focus on technology.

Corruption Still Plagues Greece’s Driving Tests
While traffic accidents continue to claim lives on Greek roads daily, irregularities and under-the-table dealings in the training and testing of new drivers remain disturbingly widespread

Pope Francis Died of Stroke and Heart Failure Vatican Confirms
As news of the official cause of death spread, tributes poured in from across the globe. The 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church is united in grief, remembering a pope who championed inclusion, justice, and compassion

Increase in Both Museum Visits, Revenues for 2024
As expected, the Acropolis was the top archeological site in the country, followed by Sounion, Mycenae, the ancient theater of Epidaurus, and Vergina in northern Greece

Where Greece’s Tourists Come From: A Look at 2025’s Top Visitor Markets
The United Kingdom continues to hold the top spot as the largest source of incoming tourism, with 5.6 million seats booked for Greece this summer — up 2.2% from last year. This accounts for 20% of all international air traffic to Greece