UK tourists are reportedly hesitant to travel to Greece this summer, with fears over recent earthquake activity contributing to a noticeable decline in bookings, particularly on the island of Santorini. This marks the first downturn in tourist numbers on the popular destination since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
According to Yannis Paraschis, president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), airline seat availability to Santorini has fallen by 26% so far this year. Paraschis expects an overall drop in summer tourist arrivals between 10% and 15%, citing a reduction in seat supply of approximately 7-8% during the peak season.
“In Santorini, available airline seats are down 26% from the beginning of the year to date,” Paraschis stated. “Based on current seat supply figures, we anticipate losses of 10-15% in visitor numbers over the summer.”
Antonis Pagoni, president of the Santorini Hoteliers Association, expressed further concern about the outlook. Speaking to Euronews, Pagoni warned that the decline in tourism could have a ripple effect on the wider Greek economy.
“This situation is expected to worsen,” Pagoni said, highlighting the significant role tourism plays across Greece’s economic landscape.
Recent earthquake tremors earlier this year have reportedly deterred many international travellers from choosing Santorini for their summer holidays, a destination traditionally known for its volcanic landscapes and scenic beauty.
