For the first year since the COVID pandemic, Santorini, one of the most popular Greek islands, is experiencing a decline in tourist traffic.Greece has been left devoid of tourists – as UK holidaymakers snub Santorini, according to the European Union holiday hotspot. For the first year since the COVID pandemic, Santorini, one of the most popular Greek islands, is experiencing a decline in tourist traffic.
“In Santorini, available airline seats are down 26% from the beginning of the year to date. But the indications we have in terms of supply of seats are down in the range of 7%-8% for the summer, so we expect a result with losses of 10%-15%,” said president of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Yannis Paraschis.
“The president of SETE talked about airport arrivals,” he added. “But I will unfortunately say that overall arrivals will be down about 20%-25%. Right now we are moving at -25% to -30%.
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“It’s a huge reduction in a destination like Santorini that attracts more than 3 million visitors. You know, it’s 10% of Greek tourism. We are not sure if Greece can afford to lose that revenue.”
But mayor Nikos Zorzos argued: “We don’t need any more hotels or any more rented rooms. If you destroy the landscape, one as rich as ours, you destroy the very reason people come here in the first place.”
The president of the Santorini hoteliers, Antonis Pagoni, told Euronews he estimates a further fall in tourist traffic and warned that the effects will spread throughout the entire Greek economy.
Earthquake activity on the island earlier this year deterred many international visitors from choosing it, it has been feared.
“The area around the Cycladic islands of Santorini (Thira), Anafi, Ios and Amorgos, experienced increased earthquake activity in early 2025,” Foreign Office advice states.
It adds: “This increase has since subsided and the tourist season is expected to continue as usual.”
“Follow the advice given by the local authorities [and] call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger,” it adds.