Signs of restraint and increased caution are being recorded among European and US travelers; they are taking a wait-and-see approach to developments on the war front in the Middle East, reassessing their plans in view of the summer season.
The increased cost of airline tickets and the prevailing climate of uncertainty have begun to cast their shadow on the prospects for this year}s summer season, although no safe conclusions can be drawn yet.
While in January and February the data pointed to a particularly positive momentum for the domestic tourism product, the picture gradually began to change. Airline seat reservations for flights to Greece for this year}s tourism season recorded a significant drop by the end of March from the main markets.
According to data from the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE), a significant slowdown in seat reservations for inbound flights to Greece from main European markets was recorded at the end of March, compared to the same period last year: A 30.6% drop was recorded from Germany, while the United Kingdom also moved on a negative trajectory, with reservations decreasing by 25.6%. From France, the decline was 31%, while the decline from Italy was even more pronounced, reaching 33%.
The largest decrease among the main markets for inbound tourism for the country was recorded by the Netherlands, with a 34.7% drop. The picture from the US market also points to a standstill, with the momentum appearing noticeably weakened, as bookings from the US recorded a 28% decrease year-on-year.
However, airlines such as United, American, Delta and Norse have already restored their summer schedule, resuming direct services connecting Athens with major US destinations, such as New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Boston.
A positive parameter is that airlines have not proceeded with a reduction in seat capacity to Greece, as they had been planning for months. In total, approximately 30.7 million seats are planned, a number increased by 8% compared to 2025. Airlines are maintaining the available capacity, which is an indication of expectations for meeting demand at a later stage or for strengthening last-minute bookings.
