Santorini Feels the Heat: Tourism Slows on Iconic Greek Island

ATHENS, Greece – Despite record tourism revenue across Greece, the iconic island of Santorini is experiencing a slowdown, with booking numbers down and concerns over a potential downturn in the industry.

Antonis Pagkonis, president of the Santorini Hoteliers Association, acknowledged a 10-15% decrease in bookings, mirroring trends across most of Greece, excluding Athens. While this marks a change from Santorini’s previous years of booming growth, Pagkonis believes it’s a “natural correction” after two decades of continuous increases.

This potential downturn comes even as Greece celebrates record tourism revenue, highlighting Santorini’s unique situation. In 2023, the island actually saw a 3% decrease in accommodation revenue compared to nationwide growth exceeding 10%.

Several factors could be contributing to the slowdown. Election years in both the US and Europe traditionally lead to more cautious travel planning. Additionally, major sporting events like the Olympics and Euro competition within Europe may be drawing tourists elsewhere.

Data supports the decrease in tourist activity. Air traffic to the island has decreased, with fewer scheduled flights compared to last year, which itself saw a decline in arrivals.

However, Santorini remains a top destination for cruise tourism. The island welcomed 1.29 million cruise passengers in 2023, second only to the port of Piraeus. But this success brings its own concerns. Authorities are currently discussing potential limits on cruise ships visiting Santorini and Mykonos to combat overtourism and its negative impacts.

While Santorini’s tourism may be cooling down, it’s still too early to call it a crisis. The island remains an incredibly popular destination, but the recent trends serve as a reminder that even paradise can’t escape the cyclical nature of the tourism industry.