Bookings for short-term rental accommodation in Greece’s island regions for July, August and September are currently down by 30% compared with last year, according to Andreas Chiou, President of the Hellenic Association of Property Managers, speaking to Naftemporiki.
In contrast, Athens and Thessaloniki are recording a clear upward trend this year. The short-term rental market is also growing in Halkidiki, while Kavala and the broader coastal areas of Eastern Macedonia are showing even stronger growth. The Peloponnese is also performing very well, according to official data.
However, in the islands — including the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete and the Ionian Islands — demand is weaker than expected. Chiou attributed the slowdown to geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict, as well as a significant increase in airline ticket costs, which is making European travellers more hesitant. As a result, bookings for the summer season are currently down by around 30% compared with last year, when occupancy rates in these destinations had exceeded 90%.
By contrast, Halkidiki is benefiting from overland tourist flows from the Balkans and Central Europe, while Eastern Macedonia — particularly Kavala and the coastal zone, as well as Thassos — is recording strong growth, alongside an increase in available Airbnb-type properties and rising international demand.
The Peloponnese, as well as the coastal areas of Magnesia and Pelion, are also performing strongly, driven…
