South Aegean leads EU in tourism intensity

The South Aegean and the Ionian Islands have recorded the highest tourism intensity in the European Union for 2024, according to Eurostat data. The South Aegean region, which includes destinations such as Rhodes, Kos, and Santorini, achieved approximately 127 overnight stays per inhabitant, a figure nearly 19 times higher than the EU average of 6,725 stays per 1,000 residents.

The spatial density of tourism in the South Aegean is also significantly higher than the European average, reaching roughly 6,950 overnight stays per square kilometer. This represents a tenfold increase over the EU average of 680 stays per square kilometer.

The Ionian Islands ranked second in the EU with 102.6 overnight stays per inhabitant. These two Greek island regions significantly outperformed other high-tourism areas such as Bolzano in Italy, Adriatic Croatia, and the Balearic Islands. The data highlights a heavy concentration of tourism in Greek island regions compared to urban centers.